Why am I always late for work?

Question

I was always late for school, as far back as I can remember. Every single day. About five minutes, no matter how hard I try.

Now, as an adult in my 30's, its still happeneing. I've analyzed and tracked how much time it takes to like, brush teeth, dress, feed dog, makeup, hair, etc etc, I've TRIED REALLY HARD - and I just can't do it.

I like my job, I'm not depressed, I'm not defiant, I really want this to stop because I drive like a freak from hell to get there on time every day. Just once I'd love to drive in the right lane and just do the speed limit and cruise like so many people do. I don't think I've ever been in the right lane in my life, it's always farrr left, as fast as I can go because I'm always late!! WHY??

I'm only about 2-4 mins late, we're not talking about 20-30 mins. I got to work once 5 minutes early and I was overwhelmed. It felt so weird!! But good. Help!

Answer 1

You're kidding right? Basically, you just really don't care enough about getting to work on time. If you did, you wouldn't have this problem. You need to get up at least 20 minutes earlier, not 5-10 to "cover" the time. You need to make a radical adjustment. If you have to get up really early becasue of commuting, just go to bed earlier. If you really do care, you have to look at your whole day. You may just have to simplify a few things during the week.

One last thing. I am in charge of about 5 people on a daily basis. Rule #1: Get to work on time. I don't suffer excuses. You know what time you should be to work. If you can't show up on time, you disrespect you're coworkers who do, you disrespect your boss and you disrespect the company that pays you. Imagine if there is a cutback and all else is equal. Who would get fired? The person who shows up on time or the person who is always a little bit late. I know who I would cut. And it's really easy to fire people who show up late. Just say you worked 8 hours and work less than that. It's called fraud. You're gone in a second at major companies. Don't even try to sue them. You'll never win. Yes, even less than five minutes a day a couple times a week is enough to get axed at some places.

As bad as all this sounds, I'm just trying to get the importance of this across to you because if its a habit, you need to make it important to you personally. I didn't even mention the fact that one day you'll get caught speeding or driving recklessly and pay out the nose for that ticket.

ps--they may not admit it, but I would almost guarantee that you're lateness is a standing joke with everyone else. I've seen that happen too. Someone will look at the clock at say "It's 8:00, guess who isn't here yet? Any bets on what time she shows up?"

Answer 2

I was the same way until I became a boss. I then realized how annoying it is as a boss. Also if someone cannot get to work on time, they can't really be trusted in other matters to follow the rules. I am no longer a boss but I'm not late because I decided it really was a big deal from their point of view. Doesn't take much more to be on time. A change in attitude is probably the biggest factor. Make it important.
Setting the clocks ahead won't help because you will know they are set ahead and that will invalidate the effort.

Answer 3

gosh, it's so simple. how have you missed it?

wake an hour earlier, an hour earlier to bed if necessary. no cheating now, you DO NOT have an extra hour. there is no time to be slack. five minutes "late" means you were 20 minutes late for work. you should have been in-house, as it were, 15 minutes before the hour. your responsible co-workers were. you have at best an extra forty minutes, less than 30 actually. use this time wisely. move to the right one lane. drive safer. it's not just your life on the line.

good luck with this.

edit: >>> oh yeah. setting clocks ahead does not work. people end up compensating.

Answer 4

You need to choose your priorities and stick to them. I would suggest that either you get up much earlier and not have to rush so you would enjoy the beginning of your day without stress.. Drive as if you were going on a leasurely trip somewhere so you wouldn't feel bad about getting up earlier. I think the secret would be for you to enjoy the driving because as it is now, you may get involved in an accident and then; where would that leave you. Learn to love your drive to work and you'll be okay. It's really worth trying.

Good luck and don't give up trying. Set your mind to do it and you will!

Answer 5

hmm....I tend to procrastinate sometimes too, but not as severely as you...if I REALLY WANT to be on time, I will be on time (unless I wake up late, of course). if you havent tried this, you can set your alarm fast by 5 or 10 minutes, and that may give you the feeling of having to get out a little quicker and rush you along a bit. are you rushing like a madwoman while youre getting ready, or just driving? maybe you should rush more while getting ready and less while driving. and, aim to get to work 15 minutes early. if you need to be to work at 8:00, try to tell yourself that you should get there at 7:45 so you can be on time and stop making a bad impression of yourself by being a few minutes late everyday. keep on trying!!

as to WHY you do this, I don't know...it's something I wonder about myself....

Answer 6

Girl it happens to the best of us. I m sure some companies offer grace periods so try to take advantage of that.

I m a boss and I don t really care if people are 5-10 mins late. We work in research. As long as your work is done...who cares? If my employees going to be in later than 15 mins then I expect a phone call. Otherwise, its really not that serious.

Answer 7

I used to be like that. Then I found out why I had such a hard time getting up in the morning and dragging myself in to work: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My point is there just may be something physically wrong - begin with a thorough check up, and take it from there.

Answer 8

That's my driving MO, too--and I have a couple of decades on you...we were late to grade school because we wanted to watch Wally and The Beav (the original) in the morning--and then walk (run) to school. I remember watching Leave It to Beaver with our coats on, and I remember running through the puddles, but I don't...oh, wait. Yes I do. The halls were empty. Spacious. Quiet. But always in time for the pledge of allegiance.

I worked at a large aerospace plant in my 20s. There were racing TRUCKS and GTOs driving more breakneck than you or I, and once an executive tried to forceme off the road because he wanted to merge in (cheating by driving on the shoulder as far as he could)--I was in the lane of traffic, and he was flanking me very agressivly, I remember he nearly clipped my door with his mirror...why was he mad at me: I was AHEAD of him and IN the traffic lane! (That's defiant, I suppose.) I always stayed late to avoid that stinkin' rush at the end of the shift, and I could drive home relaxed. I learned to put makeup on in the car, because the traffic jams were standstill every morning...and this gave me something to do! Hourly workers would stand by their desk and smoke a cigarette waiting for the bell to ring (or today's version, that leave every 40 minutes for a 5 minute puff with the boss) (Edit: I consider THIS fraud, but they don't...I'm not at my job to "Eddy Haskal" my way into a bonus (look good to management), I'm here to get a job done and put in my 8 hours--or MORE supporting the project--the mincing manager mentality is patheticly niggling and overlooks much sloth among the conformers.)

30 years later, I'm still late...to work, to church, to choir practice, to yoga, to family dinners...I have also been early and sat around waiting for something to happen...sat in classes or meetings that started 10 minutes late, or got to work on time where I'd listen (and I remember this vividly) to guys shoot (compare) football scores or last night's sit coms, or others would go prepare their breakfast in the microwave, or put their makeup on--the first 20 minutes of the work day was all of this and more: Avon books, kids' pictures, selling girl scout cookies...prologue, not work--nobody was available for a work related question until 30 minutes after start time.

I remember taking a relaxation class in college: I'd run there, and we'd measure our heart rates when the class started (I'd try to be at 100 or 120 or more) and be REALLY PLEASED if I could lower it to 46 or less in the hour. That was a reinforcement for 'rushing' in at the last minute.

I have arrived an hour or more early to certain events and helped set up, had some good conversations. On the other hand, I also remember it has sometimes been a challenge to be "useful" because someone shows up who wants to 'be in charge' and disdains my very presence, let alone my contributions--I think I want to avoid those folks who come early so they can set up their territory: (I'm thinking of one who has this demeaning attitude--it puts knots in my stomach right this very minute). I don't like contending with them.

Come late, and I can avoid the bullies (from elementary school days to today--who toot their horn for being "punctual" (but off for a cigarette, or breakfast run or etc etc.) or someone confronting me--to please move so they could sit where I was or for being a "goody 2-shoes" (then and now), and I don't have to partake of (or feel left out of) the "shoot the breeze" socializing that goes on. Those are things that often occur when I'm early, especially to certain cliquish gatherings or work environments. I feel I have some control over my circumstances--and at this point it's not even a conscious decsion/process. It's not so much about waiting or being inconsiderate of others; it's more about these other situations I've expressed.

The nicest thing I recall is a Marine who is in yoga class with me...he says, I understand, you're a creative type and have no concept of time. Yep, I'll be 2 hours after work to get something done, because the job is more important. Coming from a staunch Marine, that was a real compliment! He could see beyond his own value system and saw the worth that I could bring to a situation.

Answer 9

I have the same problem! Except it's always in the higher ranges!!

No matter how hard I try, SOMEthing always goes wrong..

Like, I'd be SUPER on-time with getting ready early..... get in my car, realize I have NO GAS and have to go to the gas station!!
And I am just late again..


Were you born in July?

Try showering at night, it might really help..

Answer 10

Wake up a half an hour earlier just to see how long it takes you to get ready out of pressure. Always allow for extra time as well.