How to Improve My Punctuality and Attendance

Being chronically late may be a symptom of a deeper problem.

Constantly failing to show up on time or to show up at all reflects poorly on your character. It sends the message that other people are not important to you. Your friends and family likely will get annoyed because they can't count on you. Your boss might consider firing you because of your tardiness and attendance record. Because tardiness and poor attendance impact every aspect of your life, it is essential to improve punctuality and attendance.

Instructions

1. Don't hit the snooze button; it makes it too convenient to stay in bed and fall back to sleep. Get up as soon as the alarm goes off. Purchase an alarm clock without a snooze button if possible.

2. Purchase a second alarm clock and set it to go off five or 10 minutes after the first one. Place the clock in a location where you will have to get up to turn it off; otherwise, it can become as crippling as the snooze button.

3. Set your clocks ahead. If you're normally 15 minutes late, set your clocks and watches 15 minutes ahead. Eventually you will forget that your clocks are fast and you will start being on time.

4. Be realistic about how long it takes you to get ready. Many chronically late people underestimate the time it take to shower, shave, put on makeup and get dressed.

5. Plan for delays such as traffic or lost keys. Always give yourself plenty of time to arrive so that you will be on time even if delayed.

6. Leave yourself notes or email yourself reminders of important appointments. Use the calendar on your laptop, smartphone or tablet computer to prompt you about appointments. Many people have attendance issues because the appointment or event has slipped their minds.

7. Enlist the help of your spouse, children and friends. Have them hold you accountable for keeping appointments and being on time.

8. Determine why you constantly miss certain appointments or why you are always late. You may have some ambivalence about the event that you haven't acknowledged to yourself.

9. Remind yourself of the cost of being late. People can see you as unreliable. You might miss most of your best friend's birthday party or wedding or the pop quiz the professor gives at the beginning of each class.

10. Don't allow yourself to make excuses. Require yourself to arrive on time for any appointment you promised to attend.

References

• MedicineNet: Help for the Chronically Late; Sherry Rauh
• Women's Health Magazine: Be on Time: How to Never Run Late Again; Kathleen Fifield
• Muskingum University: Remembering Appointments and How To Be On Time