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A 2014 YouGov study found that at least one in five Americans is late for work at least once a week.
Are you one of those people who are always late?
In today’s world, where we are trying to do more and more things, we all seem to be racing against time.
But even though we’re in the same race against time, there is the kind of person out there for whom being late simply doesn’t seem to matter.
A 2014 YouGov study found that at least one in five Americans is late for work at least once a week. And millennials (born in 1981 and 1995) are clearly the least punctual.
What will happen? Are there people who are naturally “programmed” to be late for their appointments?
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Research confirms that some people have a different perception of time than others.
British author Grace Bassey decided to investigate why she was always late for the places she visited and documented her findings in her book barking! Timebender Guide Why Us Late and how can we change (“Late! A Double Time Guide to Why We’re Always Late and How We Can Change”.)
“In terms of characters, there’s a bell-shaped curve,” says the writer. “At one end of the scale are what I call ‘time-savers’ who are eager to get there early.”
And at the other extreme are those who, according to Bassi, “double time.” They’re timekeepers, in English — and the author herself is in this category.
“bending” time
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For “time tellers” (people who “skew” time), it seems that the passing minutes have different intervals, depending on the situation
“We don’t like routine. We don’t like tasks that we already know and we get bored easily,” Passi explains to the BBC.
“We can focus well when we have an interest in something, and if time is short, we can work very efficiently,” she says.
To locate office timers, Bassi explains, one has only to look for crowded offices. “We haven’t finished one thing, we’ve already started something else.”
But why do some people seem to have this characteristic more clearly than others? The answer may lie in a very specific personality trait, according to book author David Robison expectation effect (“The Expectation Effect”, in a free translation).
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An untidy desk can indicate problems with punctuality.
‘be cerfull’
For Robson, being late is always related to the level of consciousness, and is a trait of personality.
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While some people tend to be late, others do everything not to miss the time.
You can measure this trait with questions like, “What is your level of categorization and organization?” or “Is this person punctual?” the writer explains to the BBC.
Pacie also believes that timers test time differently. For her, “We have a different perception of time than most people. Not every minute is the same for us.”
“Time can speed up or slow down,” Bassey continues. “We can get completely immersed in something and completely lose track of time. On the other hand, if we have an hour of dedication, we can work very effectively.”
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In today’s world, we are all racing against time – but not all at the same pace.
What does the science say
A 2016 study conducted by psychologists at the University of Washington in the US focused on analyzing people’s perception of time.
In one experiment, participants had a set amount of time to complete a task. They can even check the watch. But the tasks are designed to be fascinating and distract the participants so they don’t have to look at the clock.
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The researchers used methods to keep the participants distracted while they were studying
The results are clear. Some people were naturally better at estimating the passage of time than others and used this skill to plan effectively for their future.
Archaeology
One of the most surprising (and most useful) findings, Bassi says, is the finding that timers aren’t always late everywhere.
“We can be on time when it matters to us, that is, when there are consequences for us when we arrive late,” the writer explains.
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People who “double-time” tend to be on time for appointments but be late for social events
“The times we stretch the time the most are when there are no deadlines or time limits and there are no consequences, which is often the case at social events,” she says.
Pacie claims this can lead to problems with loved ones, by giving the impression that there is little interest in getting along with them.
“I think it’s really helpful to realize the power of deadlines and deadlines, that they are real, that they are imposed, that they have consequences,” she adds.
there is a solution
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Experts believe that punctuality can be improved, as can other seemingly hopeless traits.
One of the biggest problems Robson has found for improving punctuality is that they believe being late is an integral part of their personality.
“They just think it’s so intrinsic to their genes and traits that they don’t even try to correct the behavior,” he said. “This is how the narratives we have about ourselves can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
And the idea that personality traits are not permanent—they are not determined at birth, but can be shaped—is one of the most exciting developments in psychology today.
If you want, Robson says, a person can become more mindful by making simple changes.
“They can do things like a detailed schedule each day or set aside time to organize their office or bedroom if they’re crowded,” he explains. “Things we know people are aware of.”
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