Time and Tardy

We talked about time’s tempo recently. Today we talk about being on time or late, tardy.

The latter appears to be a lifestyle trend these days. People come and go whenever they want to, at least that is how it seems. Attend a meeting and watch how many arrive late. Some are just 5 minutes behind schedule, others are 10, 15 or even 30 minutes late.

I know, there are excuses for lateness. Traffic, trains running behind schedule, weather delays, and so forth. We have all been inconvenienced by these things. They happen. And my dog ate my mail so I didn’t know I had a bill to pay. This actually happened to me. Scanning my check book, I noticed I usually paid the bill at this time of the month, so I called them, and they gave me the amount and mailing address. They chuckled, too; guess they heard of that excuse before!

But really, why can’t we just get with a good calendar routine? Coming late to a meeting causes later starting time for everyone, or an interruption as latecomers enter the space.

Online programs suffer too. We know how many registered for the gathering and if the attendance number is small, we delay starting the session. That’s not fair for everyone else who arrived on time.

I have an old-fashioned suggestion: leave earlier, get settled for the event, have notes ready and a fresh notepad ready for new information. I’ve done this for decades. Started the habit in college. Arrived 15 minutes early, found the seat best for me, and opened my notes to refresh my memory on where we left off the last time. That practice left me feeling focused and alert. Participation in class improved, as well.

I continue to do this today. I leave early, find a good table and seat, prepare for the appointment so I am fresh and ready to go.

Yes, this takes time. I pad each appointment with generous travel times, early arrivals, and whatnot. This produces a calendar in which I am not frustrated, anxious or ditzy. I feel more in control. This practice really works for me. It also frees up my time to do other, unscheduled things. Working ahead on projects is another great outcome.

So, avoiding lateness and its embarrassment may be the primary purpose of my habit, but it also supports creativity and unwasted time. Both good results.

September 16, 2022

 

 

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