How To Not Be Late

[DrFaroohk]

I hate people who are constantly late. Here's some tips for anyone who is always late.

First, know where you have to go. If its to work, great, you know how to get there. If its a job interview or court appearance and you're not sure, figure it out before hand. Do some scouting!

Of course, it could be really far away, and you don't have the time to just scout. That's ok too. A general area will usually do. Just ALLOW TIME!

Furthermore, figure out distances! If you know you have to be somewhere 50 miles away, and the speed limit is 50 mph the whole way, you should allow at least an hour. A good rule is to allow half again the time you need. You have 20 minutes of driving to do? Leave 30 minutes before you have to be there. This will usually take care of that pesky old lady who's driving 10 miles an hour.

But usually the drive is only half the battle. You have to be ready to go!

Don't wait until the last minute to get ready. I know you were really into that movie and wanted to watch it. So get ready BEFORE. Make sure the basics are out of the way as early as possible - take a shower, get dressed, do your hair and all that stuff.

The half again rule also works good here. You know you usually need around an hour to get ready to leave. So allow yourself 90 minutes in your schedule to get ready.

Crunch time! Now you're ready for your day, you've got the route planned out, all that's left is to stay focused. You have to leave by 3 p.m, 2:55 is not the time to make a long, opinionated post on Fratching, or to start a game of tower defense.

Of course, some things are unavoidable, for instance, finding out there's been a major accident on the way there. However, by planning ahead as well as you have, you're only going to be 15-30 minutes late, instead of an hour or two.

Yay for punctuality!

[Sylvia727]

You have to leave by 3 p.m, 2:55 is not the time to make a long, opinionated post on Fratching, or to start a game of tower defense.

I've fallen into this trap before; fortunately I always leave myself an error margin.

[Cat]

Hear hear Dr!!

I used to be a theater major, and they drilled in to us:

"Early is on time
On time is Late
Late is fired"

Even though I switched major rather quickly, and even though its been a bit since school, I still hold that lil saying. I am 99% early/ontime for work, traffic being the only thing that keeps me behind schedule. Even meeting up with people, I have to make sure I am only about 5 min early....don't want to get to their place too early....they might not be ready, hahahhaha

[Boozy]

I work with someone who believes that if his shift starts at 5, he can show up at 5 and be "on time". That would be fine if he was able to walk in the door, drop his bag, and start work immediately. But no. He needs to get some water, go to the washroom, take forever hanging up his coat, fix his hair... etc etc etc. He doesn't start work until at least 5:10. At which point I'm late in leaving. Drives me nuts.

[tabbyblack13]

I always believe that being early is a better then on time. I try to be really early if I have to go to a doctor of some kind. I can't understand when you get to work you have to go smoke, talk with you mom, chat with others, then start an half an hour later.

I have been late before but I won't make a habit of it.

[DrFaroohk]

Yeah I used to have co-workers who would come in at 3, out of uniform, then clock in, run to the bathroom and change, come make a phone call, chat with their friends, and go out and smoke, its like 3:30 by the time they do anything remotely work related.

[powerboy]

A good rule of thumb that I go by, is to leave 10-15 minutes early. Now there are times, when I get there on time or a minute or two late. Those cannot be helped.