How to stop being late

Why it sticks

Most lateness comes from underestimating how long things take. You remember the best-case journey, forget the five minutes to find keys, and try to fit in one more task before leaving. The planning fallacy is a known bias that makes nearly everyone guess short. Being early also feels like wasted time, so there is a pull to leave at the last possible moment.

How to stop being late

1. Time your routines

   For a week, time how long getting ready and journeys really take. Most people are surprised. Plan with the real numbers from now on.

2. Plan to arrive early

   Aim to arrive ten minutes before. If you are early, you have time to breathe. Bring a book so early time feels useful.

3. Set a leaving alarm

   Set an alarm for the minute you need to walk out the door. Treat it as the real deadline.

4. Stop the one-more-thing

   When it is nearly time to leave, do not start another task. Write it down and do it later.

5. Get ready the night before

   Lay out clothes, pack bags and put keys in the same place. Mornings get shorter and calmer.

6. Add a buffer for transport

   Add ten to fifteen minutes for public transport or traffic. Delays are normal, so plan for them.

What to track instead

A row that only records the habit not happening gets a tick on the days you were never tempted, and tells you nothing on the day it mattered. Give the row to the replacement:

• Leaving alarm set
• Arrive ten minutes early
• Bag packed the night before
• Keys in the bowl

Print a tracker with these 4 habits or open them in a spreadsheet.

Your first week

1. Day 1. Time your morning routine today.
2. Day 2. Time your usual journey.
3. Day 3. Set a leaving alarm for your next appointment.
4. Day 4. Pack your bag and lay out clothes tonight.
5. Day 5. Aim to arrive ten minutes early.
6. Day 6. Stop yourself from starting one more thing before leaving.
7. Day 7. Count how many times you were on time this week.