I have a HUGE punctuality problem- late everywhere, any advice on how to control this once & for all?

Question

I am Greek so it is a cultural thing...20 min. late there is no big deal so I grew up with it. But now I am late to classes, have been repeatedly late to work...I don't give myself enough time to get ready and there's always that extra thing I need to do before getting out the door. If this continues it could lead to disastrous results- losing my job, getting into a severe car accident from speeding, etc. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated, thank you!

My clocks are 6 minutes early, but the problem is I know it, so I am always subtracting in my head...if I know it then it sort of defeats the purpose. Also, I am very impatient and value my time so if I arrive early somewhere and need to wait 15 min. it drives me nuts cuz that 15 min. is very valuable to me in my busy schedule! Thanks.

I also have a planner, a very detailed one...it actually becomes overwhelming sometimes b/c there are too many back to back things to do and stuff I don't get done so I have to rewrite them the next day. Time management and prioritization are not my assets! :(

Answer 1

I believe that most behaviour is a result of the consequences which follow. So, I ask you this....what do you get out of being late? Already you have said that you then don't have to be kept waiting...What else? Could you enjoy (subconsciously) the adrenalin rush of leaving things till the last minute? Find out what the function is of your behaviour and then find other ways to fulfill the same function but without having to be late. Interesting isn't it?

Answer 2

Set you clock ahead 30 minutes. Then get your mind set that you will be late if you don't get there by the false time. You will be early every time.I used to be like you, so I did this. At first, I still had the mental note that my clocks were fast, so I would still piddle around, and once again be late. But when I finally tricked my mind into actually beleiving that this false time was the real time, it began to work. Also, like the previous person said, do as much of your morning routine as you can the night before. That way all you have to focus on is the basics of getting ready.My aunt lived in Greece for 4 years, and I know what you are talking about. People are so much more patient over there. It would drive her crazy because she said that she would have to wait FOREVER for her food at a fast food reastaurant, because people took their time. Me personally, I would love this. I think America is too rushed, which is probably the reason why there is so much stress over here, even in children. It is sad when we don't take the time to enjoy life like other countries do. But good luck!!!

Answer 3

I like to get ready the night before. Lay out clothes, towel, set the table for breakfast, if it's cereal, even get that out. Buy a coffee maker you can load and set to come on at a certain time in the am. I'm a tea drinker so my tea pot is set. Dog is fed, house is picked up, brief case is by the door so I don't have to load it in the am. All those things that keep slowing you down in the morning are already done. Besides the clock that wakes you, set another alarm for when you have to walk out the door. When it goes off you go out even if you are half dressed and have to finish in the car. It's all about organization and that is something you can learn. Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 4

I used to do the clock thing - I'd turn it 40 mins fast. But then I'd calculate in my head what time it actually was. However, I have heard this suggestion dozens of times, so maybe it does really work?
If you're used to being late, make yourself used to being on time. Oh, that seems kind of silly by itself, but I'll explain. Make a conscious effort to be on time, or even better be early. Think about it all the time until it's like second nature. If you can create enough anxiety about being late, you might get the right motivation to avoid it. I started setting my alarm two hours before I really needed to be awake. I might hit snooze for an hour, but I'd still be awake an hour before I needed to. And that works great if you have something you can do in the morning after you're ready to go (but doesn't have to be done so you're not late again).
I bet that seems odd - creating anxiety - but I wonder if it will work. I naturally felt lots of anxiety for the longest time about being late and my biggest feat was calming the anxiety while maintaining punctuality. I used my suggestions and they worked out for me. Hope you can find some use for them!

Answer 5

My Dad use to have the same problem. No matter what was happening, he was a hour late. One day we gave up and started telling him everything was an hour earlier. I think the message finally got through when he started showing up to things and no one was ever there . Sometimes the shoe needs to be put on the other foot .Do yourself a favor and start going to bed earlier and getting up earlier . Good luck .

Answer 6

Think about why being on time is important, and visualize yourself arriving at your destinations on time. Think about how relaxed you will feel, knowing you have made a good impression on peers and coworkers, and are well prepared for the event. You'll get hooked on the great feeling you get

Also, buy a planner and start taking it everywhere and try to use it regularly. Even if you don't write in it regularly, its presence will be a reminder of your commitment to being on time more often.

Good luck!

Answer 7

The simplest way is to set all your clocks and watches a half hour ahead of the actual time.You must do this to every single clock and other time keeping item you own or see and you body will adjust to the new time fairly quickly and then you will always be a half hour early.

Answer 8

I can't believe some of the answers on here!

Ok, lets start with the suggestions:

A) Set all your clocks ahead, Have someone else do it and not tell you how far ahead...Blah, blah, blah...

In response: It doesn't help to set your clocks ahead if you KNOW they are, even subconsciously!
You aren't tricking yourself into believing they are ahead.
You are fooling yourself into believing that you think you've tricked yourself!

Case in point: Let's say you set the clocks ahead by 10 minutes, you wake up an hour and a half earlier for class and start getting ready. You look at the clock and you still have another 45 minutes before you need to be in class, you think, "Oh I have 45 minutes to get to class. Oh , no I have 55 minutes, that's right. the clocks are ahead. I have plenty of time to play my new game for a few before I have to go."

So you start to play your game and you are so enthralled you forget everyting else. You look up at the clock and suddenly it's 10 minutes before you need to be to class, but wait, no it's 20 minutes!
Oh, well, you STILL have plenty of time since you live on campus and it only takes you 7 minutes to walk to class.
So you think "Oh, well, I have 13 minutes of play time left!! Cool!"

So you keep playing. Again, you are so enthralled that you keep playing and lose track of time. Suddenly it dawns on you - "Oh, My God!" You look at the clock and not only is your 13 minutes gone, but also you just lost 20 minutes of class time, all because you KNEW the clocks were ahead!!

All I have to say is DUH!!! Wake up and smell the coffee you twit!
(Sorry, I've always been rather blunt, forgive me.)

Another case in point: I used to lose keys ALL the time. I'd leave house keys in the house, car keys in the ignition, leave them at the diner, the store, friends house, blah, blah, blah...
Finally after locking myself out for the millionth time, I got fed up!
I decided that I would make myself AWARE of the fact that I have a habit of forgetting keys and insteadof leaving them, I made sure that they were ALWAYS in my hands. Wanna know what happened?? Hmmmm.......???

I stopped forgetting them because I was so busy reminding myself of what a ditz I was for forgetting them.

I ALWAYS had my keys in my hand every where I went.
I kept them dangling and would play with them ( put the loop around my finger and swing them around and around and around, WHEEEE!) It worked like a charm.

That's my advice to you. Make yourself aware of the fact that you cannot remember to be on time for your own birthday and you will feel like such an idiot that you'll force yourself to be on time EVERY SINGLE TIME!!

Good Luck!!

Blessings!

Answer 9

Umm to be point blank about this , you shouldnt blame your past on your present lateness, its a load of BS. First thing you need to do is admit that YOUR lazy when it comes to getting up. If you have a problem with hitting the snooze button thenyou should probably start to use that thing they call willpower and stop. lol.

Answer 10

you could always set your clocks 20 minutes early and write everything down on your calander, if you have one. If you dont, get one. Do you have a phone? If so, you can program your schedule into it and that might help.