No matter how hard we try, how much we plan and how many times we say, “This year will be different!” some of us are simply never on time.
Over-scheduling, overcommitting and taking on too much seem to be becoming the new normal. Keeping up on social media sites and surfing the web magically compresses time (and not in a good way). And of course, underestimating how long it takes to finish a task or get from point A to point B, especially these days with Orlando traffic, all seem to conspire to make sure we’re not on time for anything.
Ever.
“I just think that we have a lot more on our plate now,” says Dr. Stacia Pierce.
Pierce, an Orlando-based life coach and author, adds that even though we’re doing more with what feels like less time, at the end of the day, it all starts with the beginning of our day.
“One of the reasons people are late is because they actually aren’t sleeping. They’re not getting up on time. They’re full of anxiety,” said Pierce.
Starting your day anxious and not fully rested leads to a lack of focus. And if you’re not focused on being on time, Pierce says, chances are you won’t be.
“When you don’t calm down and you don’t focus and you don’t set an intention to be on time, then when you’re focused on, ‘I don’t want to be late,’ then you usually end up being late,” she said.
With the New Year comes resolutions and the chance to turn over a new leaf or dramatically improve. Old habits, however, die hard, and like with any other goal, change won’t happen right away.
First steps are small steps.
“At some point, you have to take responsibility and you have to try to fix some of your own problems,” says Pierce. “The easiest way to fix your own problems is with a pen and paper. Write down what the problem is and write a solution.”
Aside from getting enough sleep and writing down solutions to help you stay focused, Pierce suggests meditating for 15 minutes each morning to help start your day. Also, using an electronic calendar you can share with others and push reminders to your smartphone can help you stay on track.
No one method is perfect or foolproof, but baby steps could help get your New Year off to a “timely” start.