You must have friends who are always late. Of course, you may be one of these people. Anyway, no one knows why some people struggle to get to appointments on time but never get anywhere on time. Those who arrive late for grants are not always rude, lazy, disorganized, and unpunctual. We should not judge them like that. Some of them feel very bad after arriving late. These people often optimistically hope that one day they will improve their time management skills. If you belong to this category, don’t worry. In this article, we will introduce the reasons for this issue. Finally, we will provide you with some solutions to arrive on time.
Why are some people always late?
In answer to this question, it should be said that there may be various reasons for people being late. As we said, it is not right to judge everyone the same. Experts have mentioned multiple reasons for this problem, and knowing them will help you understand your friend better the next time he is late.
1. Character type
Some people are late all the time, and some are only late some of the time. According to research, the personality type of people can be one of the reasons for this problem. You might think that you can multitask, but you can’t. Your problem may be due to not understanding the passage of time without looking at the clock. However, many people hate being late and don’t think it’s the right thing to do. In the workplace, this delay may cost you your dismissal.
2. Beliefs and habits
People’s attitudes and feelings about punctuality are different. Some people like to always arrive early for appointments, and others don’t. It depends on your beliefs. If you find it rude to be late, you will show up everywhere on time yourself, and you will consider those who arrive late to be rude. We seek confirmation of our beliefs in the behavior of others, and our habits and beliefs play an essential role in this issue.
We learn these habits and beliefs from our parents and others during our childhood and school environment. These habits and beliefs also depend on the culture we grew up in. For example, those who grew up in time-focused or time-oriented cultures and all their daily life tasks have a specific time to pay more attention to the clock. Our timing routine for doing things is not something that we innately know but rather something that we get used to over time.
3 . Labels
In school, we learn the value of punctuality and not being late because in schools, being late is usually accompanied by a fine. However, this is precisely where the negative labeling for lateness begins. Students who late often hear such sentences:
- You are lazy!
- You sleep a lot!
- Very messy!
They live with all these labels and become like what people say about them. So, if people are always late for school in childhood, it is not surprising that they continue to do so in adulthood. They may have been labeled as “the one who is always late,” and this will be true in the future.
4. lifestyle
Some experts consider people’s lifestyle as a reason for their delay or arriving on time. This group of experts believes that more forward-looking people hate being late. But those who live in the present may be late for appointments. These people are not careless, but their understanding of time differs from others. We will understand everything if we examine their behavior from this point of view.
5. Mental health problems
People’s personality types, habits, and beliefs are not always the reason for their lateness. Some mental disorders may cause some people to be always late. The most important of these disorders are:
- social anxiety ;
- depression ;
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) ;
- narcissism ;
- Drug addiction;
- Schizophrenia.
The role of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in being late
Sometimes, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) makes us to have time management problems. Those suffering from this disorder must try harder than others to arrive on time. These people often have characteristics that may together cause them to be late. In the following, we examine these characteristics.
1. disorder
Maybe these people are always late because they can’t find their keys, cell phone, or one of their shoes. Disorganization may be related to a person’s executive function impairment or dysfunction. Executive function refers to abilities that help control our purposeful behaviors. According to research, impairment in executive functions is common in those with neurological disorders.
2. Neglect
These people may be distracted right when trying to get ready to go out, easily by television. Sometimes they get so engrossed in work that they forget other important activities and events.
3. Difficulty understanding time
This problem occurs when someone has trouble estimating how long it will take to do things. Some experts believe this problem is more common in those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
4. Weak working memory
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often causes poor working or short-term memory. This disorder may make it difficult to plan to do things, organize activities, schedule, and act according to the plan. All these issues make it difficult to attend on time.
5. Getting tired quickly
Boredom or getting tired early may cause you to go for some tasks to get busy, and these tasks can prevent you from doing essential activities. According to research conducted in 2016 in America, surfing the internet or using mobile phones are ways to deal with unwanted emotions. However, doing these things may hurt people’s mental health.
6. impulsiveness
Impulsive behavior may cause you to lose track of time. For example, when you’re getting ready for a dinner date with someone, you might suddenly have the urge to call your best friend. Doing this will probably cause you to leave the house 20 minutes late.
Ways to manage time better
It doesn’t matter if the delay is your personality type, habits, beliefs, and mental health issues. In any case, you should not think that the world has ended. Those who have time management problems like you and are always late to work or appointments can also solve their problem using simple methods. It is enough to practice these methods a little.
1. Get help from professionals
You should consult a professional if chronic tardiness disrupts your daily life. Talk to a mental health professional. They can determine better than anyone whether an underlying mental health condition is causing the problem or not. Such an expert can give you the best treatment options. He will help you implement the necessary strategies to deal with this problem. After some time, the issue of understanding time will become easier for you, and your problem will be solved little by little.
2. Use a timer
This is probably the most helpful thing you can do. Set a timer like a cookie clock or cell phone for when you need to get ready.
3. Make a routine
Having a routine in your life helps you to have a better understanding of time. The reason is that you can pay attention to the duration of your daily tasks. According to research conducted by American scientists in 2019, having a daily schedule and routine helps create a healthy lifestyle.
4. Be organized
If you are always late finding your things, being organized will help you a lot. Designate a place to put your keys, wallet, shoes, and cell phone. Put everything in its place so that you will find things sooner the next time you have a necessary appointment.
5. Leave early
Before going to work or on a date, check the routes. Try to understand how much time you need to reach the desired place. Now consider 5 to 10 minutes extra time, because you may need this time to get rid of the traffic.
6. Use a calendar or notebook
Cell phones and computers are great tools for taking notes and keeping track of time. However, we don’t always look at these tools. You can put a paper calendar or desk notebook on your desk or bedroom table where you can always see it as a habit, and practice looking at this laptop or calendar daily. If necessary, take the help of a timer so that you don’t forget to check this calendar or notebook.
7. Prepare yourself the night before
If you have to go somewhere early in the morning, it is better to do everything as much as possible the night before. Prepare and arrange your clothes. Prepare breakfast for early morning. In this situation, eating a breakfast that is easy to prepare and does not take your time is better.
you say
Time management is not always an easy task. Those who suffer from mental problems, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, have difficulty concentrating and managing their time. Being consistently late may have other reasons, but there is nothing to worry about. There are ways to solve this problem, the most important of which we have introduced to you.
Are you always late, or do you arrive on time for all your tasks and appointments? What other ways do you think there are to solve the problem of being late?
Warning! This article is only for educational purposes; to use it, it is necessary to consult a doctor or specialist.
