Constantly Late!
Eight Strategies to Help You or Those You Love Who are Constantly Late
by www.Sedona.com
Is the idea of a relaxing, non-hurried morning unimaginable to you? Do you always find that you’re dashing out the door in a frenzy, speeding down the highway and still arriving to appointments 10 minutes late or more? If so, you are far from alone. A significant number of Americans -- some estimates say up to 15 or 20 percent -- have trouble getting to where they need to go on time. Aside from being stressful, being late can eat up your (and other people’s) valuable time. "Look at the costs of being late and the payoffs of being on time," says Julie Morgenstern, author of “Time Management From the Inside Out.” "I think people's stress level is very high when they're late. They're racing, worried, and anxious. They spend the first few minutes apologizing. One of the payoffs of being on time is that you eliminate the stress of the travel time and you eliminate the time spent apologizing." So for everyone who’s ever felt punctuality-challenged, or for those who have loved ones who are constantly showing up late, here are eight strategies you can use to kick the lateness habit and start showing up on time (and please forward this article to all of your friends and family who could use a few lessons on being on time). 1. Identify why you’re chronically late. Reasons for being late run the gamut from legitimate (a flat tire) to procrastination (you didn’t prepare for your interview ahead of time and instead tried to do it the morning of) to pure feet dragging (you’re unhappy at work and simply take your time showing up). You should address the underlying cause of your lateness, whether it’s dealing with procrastination, finding a more enjoyable career, or learning how to better estimate how long things take. 2. Learn to say no. Perhaps you would normally be on time, but at the last second your neighbor, mother, friend or colleague asks you for a favor that throws your entire schedule off track. Realize that it’s sometimes OK to simply say, “Sorry, I don’t have the time right now, but I can help you with that another time.” 3. Break your bad habits with The Sedona Method. By asking yourself a series of questions, The Sedona Method will guide you into the inherent experience of letting go. You will naturally release any bad habits and negative emotions -- such as subconscious rebelliousness, procrastination or anxiety -- that may be causing you to be chronically late. 4. Be realistic about how much time you need. It may be that you’re late because you underestimate how much time things take. To get a better handle on this, keep a journal for a week or two and write down how long things (such as a shower, commute to work, dog walking, or grocery shopping) take. Then, you’ll know if you’re trying to fit too much into one day. It is also a smart idea to leave “margin” in your life. In this case, that means adding a few minutes in between events for those unforeseen occurrences in life … which tend to be the rule, not the exception. 5. Develop consequences. Sometimes consequences to being late come whether you like it or not, such as not getting a job because you were late to the interview. However, in other cases, developing a negative consequence to arriving late can help curb the behavior in the future. This could be anything from not putting on makeup if you wake up late to staying an hour later at work if you arrive 15 minutes late. 6. Stick to your “leave-by” time. Most people have a time in their head when they know they must leave the door by to make their appointment on time. Once you decide on this time (be sure to see #4), stick to it no matter what (no last-minute phone calls or errands allowed). 7. Realize that your being late affects other people. When you’re late, everyone is forced to wait on you and rework their schedules to accommodate you. This can shed a negative light on your work reputation and can strain personal relationships as well. 8. Set a goal to be on time. Sometimes writing down the goal on paper can make it more realistic to attain, and you can use The Sedona Method to release any fear, anxiety or doubts that may be keeping you from achieving this goal and arriving places on time. Sources: MedicineNet.com Get Ready for a Breakthrough.
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