If you are ANYTHING like me, even in the slightest way possible, you have a little problem with your time-keeping. Running late here, there and everywhere and sometimes it gets embarrassing when it looks like a habit. You never wake up thinking you will be late for something. You wake up with the best intentions to be on time for everything. Your excuses are genuine. It's more than just, I woke up late, my car broke down kind of excuses. But having said that, if you think you have a little problem with your time keeping, maybe now is the best time to tackle it once and for all.
Here are my few tips on how to keep on top of your time so you can always be on time. This is also a note to self. As always.
1. Prepare the night before. Everything you will use the next day should be brought out the night before. It saves a lot of time when you have to look for that missing sock or glove. Also if any ironing needs to be done, do it the night before. The breakfast table can also be pre-prepared against the next morning to save you all that time setting the breakfast table. Dishes, tidying up and laundry should also be completed in the evening after dinner so you don't have to tackle it in the morning before rushing out of the house. Keep all your daily necessities in one place. For example, your keys, your wallet, yor phone, your make up. Once they are all together, you can grab it and go.
2. Set your clocks forward by at least 15 minutes. Have you ever reached your destination late and wished you got there 15/20 minutes earlier? Well, now is the time. Ordinarily you will still spend the same amount of time to get ready but if all your clocks are set 15 minutes ahead, you are guaranteed an extra 15 minutes for any last minute emergency for example, if you have to run back in for your keys, or your child needs to go to the toilet all of a sudden. You could also set your alarm to remind you what time you are to leave the house.
3. Ask a friend/family to remind you. Sometimes, even when you have done number 1 and 2 above, you still find yourself struggling with your time keeping. Ask someone to assist you for only one week until you get used to it. Ask your friend to call you at exactly the time you are to leave the house. What happens is, no matter how busy you are and how carried away you get with time, once you have your alarms ring off and then 15 minutes later, you are getting a reminder call from your friend, the pressure will help you speed up.
4. With whichever mode of transport you chose to travel by, calculate the commuting/driving distance between your home and your desired location. When you do that, try to add an extra 10 minutes on top so you can give room for the occasional hiccups or traffic along the way.
5. Try to be early. What I have noticed over the years is, I've always tried to be on time. I can organise my time according to the time I am to be at a certain destination be it school, work, church. Sometimes, I will be late even when trying to get there just on time. On occasions where I plan to be early, I am always always on time or better still, early. When you are early, you have more time to settle yourself before you start your meeting/event. So endeavour to be early, not on time.
I hope these few tips help you as much as it will help me.
Be Early. Be Inspired.
xoxo
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