Everyone knows the importance of being on time. But, easier said than done, right? Here are some simple tips for how to avoid being late.
Do you feel like you’re always running late? Are you the person everyone lies to about the real start time of an event?
Maybe deep down it bothers you that can’t ever seem to get anywhere on time, even though you really do make an effort to be punctual. If it does, then my next few tips can help! They’re all about managing your time well so that you can stop running behind schedule.
So, if you’re ready to put an end to your chronic tardiness, keep reading.
7 Tips For Being On Time
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1. Prep The Night Before
Mornings always seem to go by so fast! There’s so much to be done before you can leave the house that it’s hard not to fall behind. The best way to avoid being habitually late is to do as much as you can the night before. If you have kids, make sure you get stuff ready for them as well.
Prep your breakfast and/ or lunch and have it in the fridge ready-to-go. Overnight oatmeal is a great make-ahead breakfast option, that’s hearty and filling. Here are some other ideas for tasty and easy make-ahead breakfast alternatives.
Your nightly planning doesn’t just stop at meal prep though. Do everything you possibly can to make your morning smoother. Select your clothes, iron them and make any necessary repairs e.g. missing buttons or rips. Doing this helps you get ready fast and look amazing.
Pack your bag with everything you’ll need for the next day. Charge your cell phone and place it—along with your keys and sunglasses or umbrella—near to your bag.
2. Create A Morning Routine
A productive morning routine can help set you up for an awesome day. It also helps you to avoid being late.
When you have a routine, you do things on autopilot. You don’t need to stop at every turn to think about what to do next. Everything just seems to flow easily.
3. Set An Alarm
If you have difficulty waking up on mornings, one strategy for being on time is simply to set an alarm.
To take things one step further, don’t leave it next to your bed where it’s easy to hit the snooze button. Instead, place it across the room so you’ll be forced to get up and turn it off. Once you’re up and out of bed, it’s more likely you’ll get going.
4. Be Aware Of How Long You Really Need
Sometimes, we think we do things faster than it actually takes to get them done. If you’re always late, you might be falling victim to the delusion that you’re faster than you really are. A good way to figure this out is to time yourself.
Before you start any task, set a timer and check how long it takes you to complete. This can be eye-opening and should set you on a better path to be on-time more often. And, in the future, you’ll have a much better idea of how long you really need to get something done. Be sure to include extra time for when things go wrong. Even the best laid plans are subject to going awry.
5. Say No
Being on time is hard when you over-commit yourself. People ask you to do things and you feel guilty about saying no to them. This leads to a jam-packed schedule that leaves you feeling overwhelmed.
You run around attempting to multi-task but never fully get anything done. It’s a lot to deal with so just learn to say no and reduce the amount of stuff you need to accomplish every day.
6. Car Maintenance
One thing that can throw a huge wrench in your day and stop you from being on time is your car. A flat tire, dead battery, no gas or any number of things can go wrong.
To minimize the possibility of your car breaking down, regularly maintain your vehicle. Check the oil, battery, tire pressure etc. yourself or take it to a nearby garage and get it done there.
Also, make sure to fill up with fuel at a set point to avoid scrambling to the nearest gas station. Decide if you want to fill up when the tank is quarter full or if you want to go on a set day of the week. Do what works best for you.
7. Shut Out Distractions
In this age of social media and cell phones, your attention is not what it used to be. It’s really easy to get distracted and stray away from what you’re supposed to be doing. Of course, this can make you late.
Be sure to remove all distractions so you stay on schedule. Set your phone to silent, close all social media pages, switch off the T.V and eliminate anything else that vies for your attention. Focus on the task at hand and get it done as quickly as possible. This definitely helps to keep you on track and on time.
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These five tips are the best ways to get started when you’re learning how to be on time. They definitely work for me and help me to avoid being late.
