Punctuality is something we all depend on from time to time, but it is not always easy to put into practice. If you have ever been at the receiving end of waiting for someone who is habitually late, you’ll know how hard it is to be waiting around for someone to turn up.
Some things start on time whether you are there or not. If you don’t arrive on time you may miss out on something important. Cinemas and T.V. shows start on time, planes lock the doors and stop boarding after a certain time, trains and buses leave on or around the stated time. So these are areas where if you are not punctual, things just won’t happen. In case of a missed flight or train, you will have to re-book and bear extra expenses and botheration.
Being on time or even slightly early also gives you the chance to collect your thoughts and make sure you are calm and composed for the meetings or lecture. This can give you a slight edge over the people who turn up late. It is also less embarrassing if you are punctual. There is nothing worse than feeling the whole room staring at you. When you are late for an exam you may not be able to solve all the questions due to shortage of time.
If you have a chronic problem of being late, acknowledge it and begin to work towards correcting it. Keep a clock, phone, computer or anything that displays accurate time in each room of your house. One of the easiest ways to run late is simply by not realising that time is going by as quickly as it does.
Do not be too optimistic in assessing the time taken by you to get ready. Always keep a margin of ten minutes for unexpected delays. Wake up when you are supposed to wake up and do not press the snooze button. Keep your alarm clock out of reach so that you have to get up to turn it off. Try sleeping early to allow yourself at least 7 hours of sleep. By getting up late you are setting a pattern of laziness for the rest of the day.
Commit yourself to being 15 minutes early for everything. Watch yourself for a few days to see where you often waste the most time. Keep organised as disorganisation is directly related to lateness. People often get late as they can not find their car-keys, important documents or socks. Keep your car in good order and check the traffic update before you leave.
