How not to be late

By Kristina Sol G. Alinsod

(The national government declared the month of November as National Punctuality Month to remind everybody that Filipino time actually means being on time. Young writer Kristina Sol G. Alinsod of the University of the Philippines-Los Baňos gives us tips on how to be punctual.)

Some people, if not most, find it extremely hard to be on time. Latecomers often give the blame on traffic, slow clock, the driver, and all other external factors delaying time. But let us be more matured: The culprit behind our late arrival is no one else and nothing else but us.

Example, you have a meeting or class by 8 am and the traveling time it will take you to reach your destination is an hour. Of course you will have to leave your place by 7am or earlier– not exactly 8am!

But why should we not be late? Sometimes, people come late because of the thought that the others too will just keep them waiting, so they make others wait instead. But in doing so, you’ll miss the whole point of setting time!

It’s never advisable to be late–even if you don’t know that the person you’ll meet is never on time. It really pays you a lot to obey the clock. It’s worth being on time. Just imagine the hassle you’ll give others and yourself for coming late — on your part: you will be more vulnerable to develop wrinkles; you won’t have the chance to fix your hair and have a re-touch; you’ll miss the time to say hi to the creatures of the world and; you’ll be unable to spread your not-in-a-hurry smile.

But what is the trick of coming on time? Is it the floo-powder Harry Potter used to reach Knockturn Alley in just a swirl of ashes in the fireplace? Or is it another chemical mixed to defy distance? It’s neither.

It’s the concern for the people you’ll meet; that you don’t want to mess up their day and your activity by being late and; your self-discipline.

Here are a few tips in coming on time:

1.Check how much time it will take you to the meeting place. Consider also the traffic, the time used up by the driver when waiting for passengers (if you’re commuting), the time you’ll spend walking, and a few extra minutes if in case you need to rush to the
comfort room.

2. Observe how long it takes you to take a bath, dress up, eat, brush your teeth and fix yourself. Set enough time for preparing yourself.

3. If you have to wake up early for your appointment, try to have a complete, undisturbed sleep.

4. Set your alarm clock at the proper time and make sure it alarms and wakes you up the next day on the set time. Don’t try to use the “five minutes more and I’ll be up from bed” tactic. It usually doesn’t help.

5. Move quick and accurate.

6. Do only the necessary things. Minimize doing things that are unplanned and don’t try to add things you did not plan to do: for instance, opening your PC and surfing the net which was unscheduled.

7. Think that you don’t deserve to be late.

8. Have the absolute will not to be late.

If being late is already your trademark but you happened to break that chain, it is the best chance to congratulate yourself. You can also give yourself a treat.

If in case you came so much earlier, you can think and plan ahead, or maybe read a book, or thank God, or just sit there and relax. But don’t be bored. There is a teaching that says ‘the one who feels bored with something is the one who is boring.’ There’s nothing boring in this world.

Anyway, always remember that it’s not only the people who wait for you who are hassled. It’s a greater loss on your part. Think about it.