Note: This article is taken from the blog of Celestine Chua, in which she gives us ten tips to help us keep to our appointments.
Until my twenties, I used to get late for most of my appointments, no matter what kind of appointment it was, whether it was a social, class, exam, business, meetings appointments, or even interview.
My poor planning skills played a role in this lateness, and my workaholic nature helped in increasing it. For this, I was trying to accomplish as much work as possible only to find myself busy completing what I started earlier without being able to stop.
As a result, I would inevitably be late for my next appointment. Another reason that I would be late for oversleeping, which in turn was caused by staying up late the night before trying to finish a task instead of going to bed.
While I used to tell people waiting for me that I would be late, and call a taxi (which sometimes helped me get there on time), I got tired of being late after a while.
- It is rude to make people wait for you. In fact, it is irresponsible, since other people's time is as valuable as yours.
- When we are late, we often get confused, and we do whatever task at hand in a hurry, and this will only causes us stress.
- When you're late for one appointment, you'll probably be late for the next, too. I've realized that I don't have to feel overwhelmed and stressed, and I can avoid both by being on time.
For this, I have changed my way of getting things done and improved my time and task management skills. For this, I get to the appointment ahead of time today.
10 tips to arrive on time for your appointments
Here are these 10 tips that helped me:
1. Synchronize the time on all of your clocks
To avoid confusion, you should check that all the clocks and devices in your house match, so that they indicate the exact same time. One time, one of my clocks was five to ten minutes ahead of the rest of the clocks, and it contributed to making me get late occasionally.
2. Don’t arrive on time, but rather arrive earlier
It is really difficult to arrive on time, as no one can plan it accurately. So, it's much easier to arrive earlier, so try to be where you need to be ten to fifteen minutes early, which in turn will allow you to relax on the way. After your arrival, distract yourself with a book, listen to a podcast, or browse your phone.
3. Add an estimated travel time
Transportation always comes with unexpected obstacles. Sometimes, the bus may be late, traffic accidents happen in your way, or it may rain. Moreover, most of the directions apps and Google Maps don’t accurately predict the expected time. For this, leave your house earlier to avoid being late.
4. Plan in advance
If you're going to a place for the first time, plan in advance the route you are expected to take.
5. Pack your necessities earlier
This includes your bag, your keys, and anything you might need. This will avoid delays as a result of searching for things before leaving. Additionally, if you are going to wear new clothes, try them on a day before to make sure that they fit you. The worst thing that might happen is that you may find that it didn’t suit you, then you will end up confused and in a hurry trying to choose another dress.
6. Set an alarm to remind you when to stop
It's easy to lose track of time when we're busy. If you are one of those who get so overwhelmed at work that you lose track of time, set an alarm to remind you when to leave.
7. When it's time to leave, stop what you're doing
When your alarm goes off, stop what you're doing immediately, let go of everything, and leave, so you can pick up on what you were doing later.
8. Pack up some entertainment
In the past, I used to get late because I was so preoccupied with work, and commuting seemed to me a waste of time. However later, I found many ways to be productive while commuting. I plan my next program using my notebook. For example, I write my articles using my phone, listen to a podcast, read e-books, or practice self-reflection. However, if you are driving, you can listen to podcasts or audiobooks.
9. Use reliable transportation
Use reliable means of transportation, even if they take a longer time. For example, if you can get to your destination using both the bus and the train, the bus may be faster, but its services are often unreliable, and it may be late in arrival, then perhaps it is better to take the train. So, make sure you have a hassle-free trip.
10. Make backup plans
Have a backup plan for any emergency with a reliable means of transportation. For example, download alternative applications that allow taxi booking service if your current application is broken, or take a car instead of the bus if you are late.
In conclusion
If you realize that you will be late despite all your efforts to be on time, let the person waiting for you know immediately, thus giving them time to arrange their appointments accordingly, or reschedule their day if necessary.
Good luck. I hope these tips will help you get there on time from now on.
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