Okay, I’m still not perfect.
I have, however, made some improvements in several areas:
1. Time cushion.
This means knowing how much “extra” time I have built into my schedule. I’d like to leave at 5:00pm, say, but realistically, I know I have until 5:30pm, in case I’m not quite ready or something comes up.
2. Letting go of “one more thing.”
Maybe the hardest change I’ve made. Trying to finish “one more thing” before I head out the door was always a bad idea. Throwing in a load of laundry or doing some small task could easily derail being on time. Instead of doing the thing, which takes more time than you think, writing a note to myself to do the thing when I return, if it’s important, actually saves time. And there’s always laundry to do, so what’s the big deal about one more load?
3. Savoring relaxation.
When you are on time, you can relax. That’s the biggest pleasure of being on time. That and you don’t make people angry. 5 years ago
What poor timing too!
I was 20 minutes late for my lunchdate with Jimbo today too. He is back to work, and school is starting up in a couple weeks.
I need to get myself back on schedule asap. 6 years ago
Always carry a book.
Simple. Yet powerful.
When I have a book in hand, I don’t mind being early. I can read, do something I love, so I don’t have the feeling of “excess” time.
The obvious is sometimes surprisingly revelatory. 6 years ago
It’s really been up and down, but on the average, I’ve been on time. I arrived at an appointment today with a few moments to spare. Ahhh, that’s a superior feeling!
Yesterday too L and I were right on time for the doctor. I noted our necessary departure time and we stuck to it.
Too early can be a lil problem in its own way. I allowed generous travel time to drop L at Girl Scouts and Jimbo at his Japanese class, but they both ended up being early and having to wait around at their destinations. They didn’t like it, but they got there, didn’t they?
On time rate averaging 50%. I’m raising the bar. 6 years ago
I’d like to mark this goal as completed, but fear that would be stretching the truth a little. The fact is that I was “on vacation” for most of the week so a good deal of my schedule was operating on whim.
I did make two flights, along with their connections, on time. I feel resentful of the need to arrive at the airport early simply to wait around. And, although I was on time for my return flight, I cut it a bit close. I got to the airport an hour ahead, which should have been more since it was an international flight. I had to locate my airline, visit the duty-free shop, clear customs, clear immigration services—and then get some souvenir Aero-bars; my kids are crazy about them. Unfortunately the last line was backed up and my plane was boarding already. It’s the sort of running behind feeling that makes me queasy, but it all worked out fine.
Back to real life again. And this goal requires more effort and attention from me. 7 years ago
I was a few minutes late for a morning appointment and for a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon. Not very impressive.
I have to catch a plane tomorrow; I better be on time :) 7 years ago
I arrived in a timely manner for a parent-teacher conference… yuck… :) 7 years ago
That’s especially good :) 7 years ago
Today was a whole day of being on time. 7 years ago
arriving at the dentist for the much-dreaded filling. (Then they kept me waiting while the shot numbed my mouth since someone else had a dental emergency.)
5 minutes late for an appointment earlier in the day.
Today’s score: 50% 7 years ago
I was on time for my dentist appointment today.
Bad thing—
I have a cavity… drat! 7 years ago
Like most bad habits, the tendency to arrive late has slowly become more regular for me. Jimbo recently pointed it out to me, and I immediately felt defensive. The more I reflected upon his point, however, the more I realized he had one.
I don’t like being late and I dislike other people holding me up so I’m going to try to be more conscious of timeliness. Being late is definitely something I want to eliminate from my behavior. 7 years ago
