5 Little
Ways to Stop Being Stressed and Start Being on Time
I once had a boss—let’s call her Natalie—who was perpetually late.
She would race into the office every morning, stressed and disheveled, and
she’d always have to reschedule meetings. I almost had a panic attack once when
she arrived just 17 seconds before our flight closed for boarding on an
important business trip.
I’ve known a few people like Natalie, and I always think, How do
they do it? I mean, isn’t it so anxiety-inducing to always race against the
clock? If you take a few minutes for preparation and think ahead, it’s way
easier than contending with time as a constant enemy. Natalie’s approach didn’t
do her any favors, that’s for sure. Her lack of organization meant she never
got selected for leadership roles, and she wasn’t considered for the promotion
she wanted. It wasn’t surprising.
The good news is that punctuality is not a gene. Anyone can master
it! Yes, even that friend who always makes you lose your table at the trendy
new restaurant and the colleague who is consistently 10 minutes late to Every.
Single. Conference. Call.
I have four inboxes, a business with several facets, and I live in
a non-central part of the city, so I am constantly on the go. Here’s how I
manage to stay on (or ahead of) schedule 99 percent of the time!
1. Refuse to take on too much.
Overscheduled people (guilty!) run the risk of being late, because
they squeeze more into their calendar than a 24-hour slot will allow. Hey, you
can’t fit seven eggs into a half-dozen carton without a mess. This one simple
rule will transform your life. Natalie was always going to unnecessary meetings
with unlikely vendors and allowing trivial coffee dates to run way over their
finish time within her precious working hours.
What can you scratch off the agenda before you even begin today?
Get real with yourself here. What can you say "no" to in order to
give your best to the stuff that really matters? You know, don’t you? So
decline! Delete! Reject that caller dialing you with an unknown number who will
hold you up. Say "No, thank you," more than "Well, OK."
2. Set aside a few minutes to plan.
Look at your day the night before or first thing in the
morning. Where do you have to be, and by when? What do you have to do, and how
long will each task take you? All you have to do is a bit of time budgeting!
Say you have three tasks to complete, and two meetings that both
require a little prep and travel time. Schedule an approximate time for each of
the three tasks, and give yourself some extra padding in case you need a little
longer than you think. Accounting for error is not only practical, it allows
you to zip around without worry. Bliss!
Now you have a gorgeous, on-time day ahead, with zero
schedule-related stress. It can be that simple.
3. Have some hacks handy.
Without dry shampoo, an accessory collection that dials up a basic
black outfit, and a handbag-ready bright lipstick, getting ready would take me
at least 30 minutes more per day. When you have some time-saving hacks in your
life, your appearance remains strong in a fraction of the time.
Someone once taught me to decide my outfit for the next day on my
commute home every evening. Figure out what’s clean and what will work with the
weather to make the next morning that much smoother.
4. Start batching.
Whether you’re planning Instagram updates, sending emails, or
even make-ahead meals for the week, batching is a time-saver. Once
you’re in a shopping, writing, or social media mindset, optimize that by
thinking a few days or a week out. When you’re already at Whole Foods,
could you satisfy not just your current craving, but also make snacks for the
week? A working mum shared with me the secret of batching meals, chores, and
even paying bills online. Try it—you won’t go back.
5. Just lie.
Yes, lie! If late people in your life hold you back, tell them
that the event is an hour before it actually is. Tell your perpetually tardy
friend that the reservation is for 7 p.m. when it’s actually 7:30. I do this
with my husband a few times a week, and I think he secretly doesn’t mind. He
needs the nudge.
http://greatist.com/live/be-on-time-for-once?utm_source=CM&utm_medium=email&utm_content=story1_cta&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter_1969-12-31_testB_20160817
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