Time is everything, Part 2

Excuses People who near in or around the city blame their tardiness on the city. There seems to be a thousand and one obstacles to getting anywhere on time in the city: Road maintenance, visiting dignitaries (In my beloved Uganda a full 40Km highway even gets closed for some days because some Prime Minister from Korea is visiting, which always baffles me asking myself whether they do the same when our Prime Minister visits that country), anyways back to the topic; spilled coffee, construction, street musicians or beggars, bagels, mention it. We readily offer these excuses as we plop down ten, fifteen, even thirty minutes late to work, or meeting, or even just a drink with a friend. "You would never believe the traffic on *street/road name*," We’d sigh. The city was conspiring against me, and like Alice's White Rabbit, I was perpetually late for a very important date. Oh and my female friend told me the other day that most ladies deliberately be late for dates because they want their dates to wait a little longer on the venue, which makes them feel a little bit more important. You can imagine. Women psychology always beat my understanding (That’ll be a topic for some other day). The good news is, you can improve your punctuality by trying out some of these strategies: ·         The first step is acceptance. Admit you have a problem keeping time and enlist help. ·         Surround yourself with clocks (not just the one on your cell phone). Get a wristwatch as well. ·         Bring something to read or occupy you, so if you arrive early, you don't feel like you're "wasting time." These days social media   can occupy any ‘free time’ we get. ·         Give yourself a handicap. If you're a bad estimator, double the time you think it will take to get there. Then prepare to leave earlier. ·         If you've never been where you're going, look up directions beforehand (not at the time you're supposed to be walking out the door). We have maps and directions on our smartphone now, which also help to sketch the shortest route possible to the destination, and time taken. Don’t buy a smartphone for Facebook and WhatsApp only, use those other very useful apps. ·         Before you accept invitations for engagements, ask yourself if you really can, or want to, attend. If you're hesitant, perhaps it's better to politely decline than rudely arrive late. ·         Don't try to do too much. Keep a detailed schedule and don't be distracted by tasks not on it. Follow your schedule. ·         Fine yourself for every minute you're late. Like giving someone a dollar or UGX. 5K or jogging a kilometer every time you are late. ·         Hypnosis. Hey, it can't hurt, right? Yeah right.  And for those of you who always arrive on the dot, well done, but are frustrated by your unfashionably and annoyingly late friends and colleagues, try these tips: ·         Calmly let the person know you're irritated. ·         Impose some kind of consequence, playfully at first. For example, if your friend is late for a date, she buys. I’m quite sure she’ll never be late again. ·         Give them a taste of their own medicine. On your next meeting, show up as late as they were the last time.  Time is not money for everyone, but it is a resource. If you waste someone's, they can’t get it back. Punctuality is about consideration, and it's something I'm working on too. I'll keep you posted, but now I've gotta run. I'm late for something.