How to Be On Time
I believe punctuality is a super power. It’s one of those magic tricks that when mastered, makes a world of a difference in how we get by in the world. Before I mastered the art of being on time (still working on it, but doing MUCH better), no matter what I did I was always just plain late.
Keeping your guest or attendee waiting is SO not chic, because it makes them frown instead of smile, which causes premature aging.
Being on time is not an innate trait—it can be coaxed into a hard and fast habit, just like brushing your teeth, chewing with your mouth shut, or keeping your elbows off the dinner table (and I’m not even a mom yet!).
What’s the point of being on time? Put simply, mastering punctuality positions you for success in both your personal and professional lives. I’m not suggesting you do as my mom does, and show up to the airport at 4:30 am for a 1 pm flight. I’m only proposing that you aim to arrive at 10:58 am for an 11 am appointment.
In the spirit of being on time, I won’t tarry any further on my trade secrets. Here’s how to do it!
1. Look up your location on google maps a day in advance. Let that 30 minute subway ride on the C train really sink in mentally. This way, the next day you are almost pre-programmed to get on the train, having envisioned it all the day before. (I also pop a book in my bag to give myself something to look forward to/as an extra motivator to get on the train on time.)
2. Give yourself a ten minute buffer. Might sound obvious, but if google maps says 30 minutes, tack on 10 minutes. You’ll allow for those unforeseen events like running into a friend on the street (although who notices anyone behind the masks these days), those annoying stops in between subway stops, or accidentally walking in the wrong direction after exiting the subway.
3. The last minute tasks can WAIT! If you’re like me, you like to delay your departure by squeezing in every kind of random activity under the sun. It might be something like researching a new storage bin online or rearranging your jeans for absolutely no reason at all. Ask yourself, “do I absolutely have to be doing this now?” With few exceptions, you absolutely don’t. The emails can wait. As someone who gravitates towards visible, tangible results, it’s important to remind myself that something imperceptible like being on time is just as important.
4. Tell yourself you’re a punctual person. Ever catch yourself making sweeping generalizations about yourself? Like, “I’m just a late person,” or “I’m not a morning person.” Once you realize these negative affirmations are habitual, you can flip the switch on some counterproductive thought patterns. Tell yourself you’re a punctual person over and over until it sticks. Sooner or later, you’ll start to act like a punctual person, and you can kiss those frantic sidewalk sprints and sweats goodbye.
5. Accept that this business of being on time isn’t always fun. Doing all the things you need to do to be on time often requires work. Sometimes it is the opposite of a fun activity, like going to your favorite pastry shop for your favorite flaky chocolate croissant. The payoff of the initial humdrum brass tacks of it all is the sheer comfort and joy of sitting down comfortably in a waiting room chair or cafe chair, knowing you’ve got a minute or two to spare. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, flip through your old photos, pretend to be doing something important on your phone, or just put the phone down. It’s most likely what was making you late in the first place anyway!