Being late all the time doesn’t do your social life or career any favours. Here’s how to beat the clock…
Are you one of those people who’s never on time for anything-constantly rushing from one late appointment to the next? Perhaps you think everyone’s like that or you always have an excuse to do the circumstances beyond your control. But if your timekeeping is putting a strain on your relationships or causing problems at work, chances are that the real cause of your lateness is you.
What makes people late?
Psychologists agree that these are several underlying and often related reasons behind persistent lateness:
Poor Organization.
Some people lack awareness about the length of time that events – such as journeys or appointments – will actually take.
Lack of motivation
People who are frequently late in one area of their life – such as work or dates with their partner – may be displaying a subconscious reluctance to commit to the planned activity. If you recognize your own behavior here, perhaps you’re losing motivation for your job or having doubts about your relationship.
Fear
If you’re nervous about an imminent event – whether a party or a business presentation – turning up late is an obvious expression of that anxiety.
Procrastination
Putting off tasks that need doing is also often about fear, usually of the responsibilities that may arise from your decision
Stress
“People who are suffering from stress may have problems sleeping and seem perpetually tired”, says clinical psychologist Ron Bracey, author of Maximise your time in just 60 minutes. They may use drugs or alcohol to help them cope – which has a knock on effect on performance and can cause lateness.
Superiority Complex
“Lateness can be a way of showing how relatively unimportant you think an appointment is, compared with your other concerns”, says chartered psychologist Ben Williams. This is common in work situations, where a colleague may turn up late for meetings to show his/her time is more important that yours. “Such people usually have deeply rooted feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Says Williams: “It is arrogance based on insecurity.”
Source: Cleo Magazine
