Comments on: What Works: Being On Time

By: Esmeralda Garza

Esmeralda Garza — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:46:28 +0000

Great timing for me to get this message, as today I was running late for work…again. I certainly will make an effort to improve on my timeliness.

By: Barbara Loughridge

Barbara Loughridge — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:24:22 +0000

Wow! What a timely message. I was recently discussing with friends ‘why I’m always late’, and after some soul-searching, decided it’s because “I hate waiting”..any time,any where, for anyone! How ironic! I’m determined to use some of Phil’s suggestions. Thanks!

By: Matt from St. Iggy's

Matt from St. Iggy's — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:24:00 +0000

Phil -
Great article! I meant to write something sooner, but was running a little late the past few days. (8=}
Cheers -
Matt

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:35:44 +0000

Growing up, my mother was always late which caused a lot of distress. I even missed a band concert we were so late. When I bought my own car, I went early without her telling her she could catch up with me. I have found many years later that she actually gets to events on time more consistantly then in the past.

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:29:05 +0000

Thank you so much. You described my experineces and struggles with the minding the clock to a “T”. I have learned that when I am heading for a particular place to meet folks, it is so important to keep them in mind as I travel. It helps. It beats setting your clock ten minutes ahead, which you add into your calculations when you want to know how much time you have! Manipulation never works, especially when you are trying to manipulate your own self!

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:26:40 +0000

I can totally relate to this, I’m always a few minutes early. I have a good friend who is always running at least 15 minutes to 1/2 hour late. She’s gotten better over the years, but whenever we would get together we would always tell her that our plans or the movie started 1/2 hour earlier, just so she would get there on time.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:05:29 +0000

Thank you so much for writing this; it came right on time for me! As I was reading, it occurred to me that all those ‘race against time’ formula movies we all grew up watching were so detrimental. Childish thrill, indeed!

By: Gabriele

Gabriele — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:06:24 +0000

When I was growing up my Dad was obsessively early – to him being on time was late. He never lost his temper or shouted but we knew better than to be late. Ma reacted to this rigid time consciousness by always being late and making him late. Dad was an accountant and time was money – billable hours were what counted. The only time I ever saw it blow up between them was my wedding when he insisted the bride arrive early and Ma was determined that I would be late.

My point is this ,, Ma was not being rude or disrepectful and Dad’s time obsession was a form of bullying. It is always a matter of perspective ….

By: Violeta

Violeta — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:22:44 +0000

I enjoy this article and found the toolbox helpful; however, there are some factors not mentioned in the article that affect some people that are late, 1) transition anxiety, and 2) efficiency.

Transition anxiety is type of anxiety experienced by some when they have to depart from one place to go to another. One solution is to start saying goodbye at least 15 minutes earlier than usual.

If employers would assign hours that match employee’s highest efficiency, you would see many people perform better and also be better on time. I tried going to bed early, getting up earlier, going to work early. Is all the same, my brain does not function at 8 am, but I’m extremely alert at 9 am. I just want to emphasize that everyone that is late is not disrespectful.

So here are some of my tools that have helped me be on time:

1. start saying goodbye 15 minutes prior
2. be honest (like the toolbox above), add those minutes it takes to walk back/from, stops for getting coffee, buying your train ticket
3. if you are not a morning person, then prepare the night before
4. give an approximate time frame (I’ll be there from 9:15 to 9:30) not a specific time
5. put a dollar in a piggy bank for every minute that I’m late (I haven’t figure out what to do with the money yet — I’ll take suggestions)

By: cathyf

cathyf — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:13:33 +0000

I have a brother who was always the last person ready who made us all late. Because of that, I am pretty obsessive about being on time, and get very upset whenever I mess up and find myself running late. But mostly I am on time, and I think that it’s pretty important to avoid having emotional reactions to other people’s lateness. The only person you can change is yourself, so if you are the “victim” of another’s lateness the only way to fix the problem is to stop considering yourself a victim.

If you are a late person trying to break the habit, all of those self-lectures about disrespect are a really good tool. If, however, you are using this as fuel to feed your anger at another person’s lateness, then stop it right now!

A former pastor told us a fantastic story in a couple of homilies. When he was in college, he went to Confession, and he was really annoyed and angry at one of his friends. So he ranted for awhile, until finally the priest said, “so, when are you going to stop confessing other people’s sins and start talking about your own?” We all had to laugh in self-recognition…

So if you have been on the receiving end of lateness (or anything else) it’s really important to realize that the level of annoyance or disrespect — or charity and understanding — that you feel is the thing that you control.

By: maryann

maryann — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:37:57 +0000

I can’t agree with you more. I am obsessively on-time or early. I find it very annoying when others consistently arrive late. It is very inconsiderate and disrespectful of my time. I also agree that there is a frenetic energy that comes with the lateness and effects everyone there. Thanks for addressing this.