Pros and Cons of Being Consistently Late

Punctuality is commonly interpreted as professionalism, respect and/or responsibility but truthfully most people have a hard time being on time. Busy schedules, time management or simply a slower way of life are common to many people and usually are of little consequence.

Time punctuality has both unexpected benefits and very substantial costs. This article will highlight the pros and cons of being perpetually late in terms of its potential impact on personal relationships, career development and one’s self-image.

Pros of Being Perpetually Late

1. Promotes Flexibility and Adaptability
Usually, people who are habitually late ultimately discover that they possess a skill for being adaptive to change. Habitually late people often have the ability to change plans on and provide quick solutions to the problems they create for themselves.

2. May indicate creativity
It is hypothesized that frequently late people exhibit creative-thinking, originality and optimism relative to other people. Creative and original thinkers likely enjoy nonlinear thought processes that enable them to experience deeper thought and loose their sense of time, but also a creative and/or original idea and solution.

3. Present focused
Typically, people who are late are valuing what they are doing and/or the conversation with another individual over the schedule. Experience the present without rushing to a new time commitment generally represents a more in-depth conversation and means something to the other person.

4. Reduced stress (Sometimes)
If a person does not care about being late, there will hopefully be a corresponding reduction in the individual’s pressure, anxiety and/or personal responsibility. They don’t care about the stress that energizing deadlines induce, opting for more leisure-based days.

5. Promotes a Laid Back Persona
Some chronically late individuals are ironically regarded as friendly, approachable, and less counterproductive. In social groups, they might be labeled as fun, spontaneous, or the life of the party; this can mean likeability in certain contexts.

6. Enjoy the Illusion that they can Maximize Time by Multiplying Activities
Late people may live under the rationalization they can do achieve more by minimizing time on things. They sometimes expeditiously find shortcuts or efficiencies, doing things more quickly once they do engage.

7. Can Avoid Delays or Idle Situations
Ironically, late people sometimes escape waiting in line or for others to arrive when bonafide delays occur. Possibly, they easily saunter into meetings, or events, just as they begin and do not have to idly wait like everyone else.

8. Culturally Accepted in Certain Environments
In some cultures, chronic lateness, or lateness; culturally accepted and/or informal state doesn’t mean total disregard for time. Being few minutes late may not really be an issue or even an expectation depending on the context of an eating arrangement and established norms set by the group or area.

Cons of Being Late All the Time / Cons of Chronic Lateness

1. Makes You Look Bad in Your Professional Reputation / Refers to Your Professional Mannerisms
Chronic lateness is typically not a desirable trait to have in most professions as this can affect the way people perceive you at work. Some people may think you are disorganized, unreliable or don’t really care about their time; these qualities don’t instill confidence in others and build barriers limiting your career prospects or to develop professional relationships.

2. Relational Strain
Being regularly late can cause friction with friends, partners and family members. It can create feelings of being undervalued, or disrespected by others, which can lead to friction or resentment over time.

3. Lost Opportunities
There are so many things where being late means missing something big. Big things can include the start of a meeting, job interview, flight, or performance. These missed opportunities can leave lasting effects.

4. Increased Stress and Anxiety
Some people are relaxed people who are late, but many people feel stress and guilt about being late. In fact, the crossing of getting somewhere on time, and knowing people are waiting is long-lasting anxiety.

5. Negative First Impressions
First impressions do matter! Showing up late for an interview, date, or networking event instills an immediate negative first impression. It may even be impossible to change the assumptions formed based on initial tardiness.

6. Reduced Productivity
The shockwave of being late spreads with sometimes irregular schedules which can hold you up and potentially delay team projects. If your colleagues do not have a consistent time to meet, the logistics of changing timelines can create challenges and impact productivity and efficiency in group settings.

7. Possible Penalties or Fines
Being late in many different situations produces consequences, such as late fees for appointments, missing modes of transportation, or school and business penalties. Penalties can add up in your life and produce consequences later over time.

8. Missing Cultural or Social Cues
Late people will miss introductions, key story context, or background to a meeting, or gathering. They may feel out of synch, or miscommunicated with the group.

Conclusion

Being late to things is a habit that has some minor gifts, and large consequences. You may enjoy the gifts of creativity, flexible schedules and lifestyle, and lack of anxiety associated with being late; however, being late can bring social friction, personal stress, and more! The key to development is understanding the reasons why you are late, and the impact it has on the people around you.

So whether you are human and need to get somewhere on time, or you are a regular late person like me, you can make minor adjustments so that you will respect your time and the time of others while conducting your day at the best speed of which you are capable!