Running late when you have kids is pretty much par for the course. Getting out the door is like trying to wrangle a family of ferrets, all hopped up on pixie sticks.
Kids. Am I right? They make us late for pretty much everything. I swear, even if we start getting ready for something two hours early, someone will lose a shoe and everything comes to a grinding halt while we search. PS: the lost shoe is always under the bed. Always.
But at least now I know that people who are always running late are both happier and healthier. That’s some solace.
Running Late
People who are chronically running late aren’t terrible humans, even though folks like us might aggravate the people around us to no end. It’s not like my family likes to make a grand entrance wherever we go.
“Okay, kids. Let’s slow it down. We want to be sure everyone at the dinner sees us enter in our finest sweatpants and barely combed hair.”
Nope. If anything, I’d rather slink in completely unnoticed, like a ninja mom.
People who are chronically late are probably multitaskers.
A 2003 study found that folks who are late again and again are likely doing more than one thing at a time. In other news, I could have saved them a bunch of time and trouble because this isn’t news. I can make a pie while drinking wine and eating chocolate all at the same time. It’s called talent… and it’s only dawning on me right now that perhaps the wine and chocolate thing contribute to my lateness sometimes. Go figure.
Always late, ever an optimist.
Fortune 500 consultant Diana Delonzer, author of Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenged, suggests folks who are often late likely have an enthusiastic, can-do attitude that keeps them calm even when things get hectic. They believe they can get things done quicker, so they can get out the door.
I have no such illusions. I believe I can’t do things quickly enough and that I’ll never get out the door.
If you’re running late, you’re bright and creative.
That’s not all. “You’re smart and open-minded and, subsequently, willing to go out on a limb in your problem solving, too.”
I’m willing to go out on a limb – to find that one lost shoe so we can get out of the house. Thanks, science.
So what should you do if you’re always late?
According to Science Alert, a 2012 study found that asking people to mentally picture a task before they do it can help them be more realistic about its duration.
In other words, think about everything you have to do in order to be on time and plan, as best you can, exactly how long it will take. It’s supposed to help.
I’m thinking about how long it will take me to make supper right now. It will take 5 minutes. (To call pizza delivery.)
Hey, this way I won’t be late!
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33 comments on “People Always Running Late Are Happier and Healthier”
I was tagged with this post due to my chronic lateness. There will always be haters but I choose to be happy, helpful, optimistic and imperfect when it comes to managing time. I’m almost 60 and despite the volumes of data available to perfect me, I remain flawed. Embrace it. God made me the way I am to be for his purpose.
Exactly!! Thank you!! Lol!!
Have 2 kids. We are never late
What a joke… people that are always late are very rude inconsiderate of others. I had 3 special needs children plus rana day care (6 extra kids from newborn to 12 yrs old) and I can honestly say I was never late for anything. In fact if I wasn’t there 5 mins before my appt I was late. If I was going to be late I would call and let them know. Everyone else time is just as valuable as mine. So get off your high horse and plan ahead and start getting ready an hour sooner. And where is the study or is this just a bunch of rude inconsiderate people trying to make yourself look and feel good to be so rude and not value others time. What are you teaching your children by always being late and thinking it is cute? Well I know. You are teaching them that they’re the only ones that matter and everyone else time isn’t important to you.
Thank you for proving the point of this article by giving a clear example of its counter – that people who are always on time are far less happy and/or healthy and lack both intelligence and open-mindedness.
I like this article!