BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“You know, us. We run on island time!”
“You know Simone (cough, cough) she is always late.”
“CPT (Colored Person Time) baby!”
We all know someone who never seems to be on time, whether it’s to a lunch date, or a work meeting. This can be extremely frustrating for those who are sticklers when it comes to time, and in no way am I making excuses for latecomers, but is there a good explanation for why some people are always late?
The first thing that I am going to do is call out latecomers; we can be on time when it matters, when there will be negative consequences for our lateness, like missing a flight, and if that is the case, what are the reasons for habitual lateness.
Experts say that the habit of being tardy is a result of a number of factors, including time perception, time management and personality.
Hugo Spiers, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London and the co-author of a 2017 study in the journal Hippocampus, told Live Science,
“It is likely that there’s a mechanism in the brain that causes some people to be late for meetings because they underestimate the time it will take them to get there.”
The mechanism in the brain that he is referring to is the hippocampus, a region of the brain, which processes some aspects of time, such as remembering when to do something and how long it takes. Neurons in the hippocampus act as “time cells” contributing to our perception and memory of events, but why exactly some people perpetually underestimate time is unclear.
In some cases, people who are habitual latecomers may not factor enough time to complete tasks unrelated to travel, such as getting ready. Research published in the journal Memory & Cognition suggests that we make time estimates based on how long we think tasks have taken us in the past, but our memories and perceptions aren’t always accurate. Makes sense.
Personality also plays a role in running late. Certain personality traits, such as reduced conscientiousness, can cause some people to forget tasks that they had planned ahead of time, and for the multitaskers out there, another factor that may influence a person’s timeliness is how prone to multitasking they are. People juggling several tasks at once are less likely to remember and complete other scheduled tasks on time.
The key; having strict deadlines. In the absence of a deadline, people often lose track of time.
A 2019 review published in the journal Medical Science Monitor found that individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can find it hard to process and estimate the passing of time.
Okay, now that we have some explanations, what can we do to avoid being late?
Plan ahead
Try to anticipate any possible obstacles or delays that may arise and plan your schedule accordingly. This includes leaving early, taking into account traffic or transportation issues, and giving yourself enough time to get ready.
Set reminders
Use reminders, alarms, and notifications to help you stay on schedule. This can include setting reminders on your phone, calendar, or computer.
Prioritize punctuality
Make a conscious effort to prioritize being on time. This means setting a goal to arrive early and making it a habit to arrive at your appointments and meetings at least a few minutes before the scheduled time.
Communicate effectively
If you know that you will be running late, communicate this to the person or people you are meeting with as soon as possible. This can help to manage expectations and minimize any negative impact caused by your lateness.
Be accountable
Take responsibility for your lateness and apologize if necessary. This shows that you value the other person’s time and that you are committed to being punctual in the future.
Stop this island time nonsense. Let’s do better!
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