Life’s Nitty Gritty

Tip No. 20: Never Be Late Again

Are you punctually challenged? Always running behind? Are your friends tired of your tardiness? You’ve tried setting your clocks ahead and getting up earlier, but you’re still late. When it comes right down to it, punctuality is actually a habit that you can develop. Start now.

Steps

1. Read Tip No.16: Set Goals. Then glean strategic tips from Tip No. 17: Streamline Your Morning Routine.
2. Consider the costs of being chronically late: You risk censure at work, you negatively impact the lives of friends and colleagues and you jeopardize your child’s record at school. Not to mention you crank up your own stress level. Voluntarily.
3. Make a commitment to arrive five minutes early—not just on time by the skin of your teeth, or on time only if traffic is easy and there’s a meter right in front. Punctuality is a planning decision, not a sign of good character.
4. Assess your own timeliness. Compare how long you think it takes to get somewhere with the reality—if you’re late all the time, this is easy. Are you perpetually five to ten minutes late for appointments? Do you get to the movies when the opening credits are already rolling?
5. Scope out your destination in advance and find out how long it takes to get there. Always build in additional travel time, especially if the route is unfamiliar or if it’s a long trip. Instead of being caught by surprise, take into account traffic, public transportation delays and potential parking difficulties. Write down directions and take the time to print out a map. Get a copy of public transportation schedules and routes.
6. Resist the urge to squeeze in “one more thing” on the way. When you’re scheduling your day, write down when you’ll have to leave in order to get to an appointment on time, and leave then. Don’t delude yourself into thinking you now have extra time to do something else en route—even when you could.
7. Set a kitchen timer for thirty minutes before you have to leave if you tend to fritter extra time away and still end up rushing or late. When the timer rings, stop procrastinating and get a move on.
8. Start and end meetings on time. When time is running out, continue the discussion offline or schedule a follow-up meeting. See Tip No. 191: Schedule Appointments Efficiently.
9. Make a date with your checkbook. Mark on your calendar two regular times every month (more if you need it) to take care of your bills rather than using those late notices as your call to action. See Tip No. 229: Simplify Bill Paying.

Tips

Call immediately when you realize that you will be late.

Go to bed earlier, set the alarm earlier and get up earlier.

If you just can’t seem to get to work by 9 a.m. because of traffic or kids’ school schedules, for example, see if you can work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Who Knew?

If you are constantly late for work but are on time for appointments in your personal life, maybe it’s because you hate your job. Do some soul-searching and think about getting a new job. See Tip No. 167: Prepare for a Career Change and Tip No.166: Organize Your Job Search.