Diana DeLonzor

Approximately 20% of American adults are chronically late, creating unnecessary friction in their relationships and careers. The vast majority of chronically late people dislike living their lives behind schedule, but they can’t seem to change. Here’s how to break the tardiness habit — and what to do if you’re the one left waiting…

BREAK THE HABIT
If you’re always late…
Learn to tell time honestly. The chronically late underestimate the amount of time things take by about 25%. They remember only the day there was no traffic and they made it to the office in 15 minutes, not the days the trip took longer. Make a list of things you do on a regular basis — shower and dress, drive to work, pick up a few things at the store, answer E-mail. For a week, time how long each task takes you. In the future, budget the amount of time it took on the slowest occasion.
Plan to be early. If your schedule is designed to get you where you need to be just on time, you’ll be late whenever the slightest thing goes wrong. Instead, aim to arrive 15 minutes early. Carry a magazine or some work with you so that you don’t waste time if you are early.
Free up your morning. Are you frequently late to work? Don’t leave everything to the morning. Shift as many tasks as possible to the night before. Pack your briefcase, locate your keys and lay out your clothes before going to bed.
Include time estimates on your to-do list. Many chronically late people expect to get everything on their to-do lists done no matter how much they pack in. Instead, block out time for each chore to get a better idea of what you can accomplish in a day. Write down the time estimates, and rank each chore in order of priority so that you know what to pursue first if anything runs longer.
Forget perfection. Perfectionists find it difficult to move on to a new task until a current project is completed perfectly, often leaving them far behind schedule. Be aware that 95% correct and on time tends to be better than 100% correct and late. If perfectionism is your problem, make “It doesn’t have to be perfect!” your mantra.
Wean yourself off the addiction to deadline pressure. Some people are drawn to the adrenaline rush created by looming deadlines and have difficulty motivating themselves without that pressure. They often develop a “just-in-time” mentality, tackling tasks only at the last moment. To change the last-minute mind-set, you have to practice every day. Each morning for one month, write down three things that you will do ahead of time that day and then do them.
Examples: Fill your gas tank before the warning light comes on… turn in a report a day early… pay a bill as soon as it arrives. Eventually, completing tasks early will become a habit, and you’ll find that life is more enjoyable without the constant deadline pressure.
LEFT WAITING?
It can be extremely frustrating to live or work with people who are always late. What to do…
Understand that it isn’t personal. Punctual people often think they’re being taken for granted, but late people don’t lack respect for you — they lack the ability to control their own time.
Explain — don’t complain. Venting pent-up anger adds to friction. Instead, explain how the tardiness makes you feel — anxious and disrespected, perhaps. Agree to preset penalties. If the late person keeps you waiting for more than 10 minutes, he/she pays for dinner… does some chore for you… or owes you $1 for every minute of your time lost.
Fib about the schedule. If all else fails, tell the late person that the time is earlier than it really is — for example, a 10 am meeting is at 9:45.

I had no idea a plastic surgeon could make you a face mask like that, sorry I asked…just curious, that’s all. But now that makes me want to ask: are you in pain or is it the scarring only that you don’t like?

Why wouldn’t your doctor just try to make your face look like it used to, you liked your old face, didn’t you? I would love to see your options, designing a man’s face could be fun or weird, not sure which, hahaha…to share the options is your call, sweet pea.

My sites comments area does require e address, you’re right, didn’t think you were lying but I did check and it’s to prevent spam. After I wrote that feminism series awhile ago, I’ve been inundated with it and I asked him to do something about it. He’s checking to see if he can enable for certain call names of my choice, and you would certainly be on that list ; )

Ciao, Zen

The face I show in public is the one they are used to seeing. No one knows that I have had an injury or that anything happened to me in Dafur. I wear a full face mask when I am in public. It is quite good, practically undetectable. Occasionally, I expose my monstrosity to someone, their reaction never ceases to stun me.

I must admit I get lost into you too when I am answering one of your personal inquiries. If I may brag a little, if we meet under the right circumstances, I am pretty sure that I will not get lost in you. You will most certainly know where I am. Of course, mentally getting lost into you during the experience will be anticipated with delight.

I can not tell you how much i am looking forward to my surgery. I have seen so many computer generated options. I have been tempted to send you some for your opinion. It’s not often a woman gets to design the face that will be between her “will I or won’t I options.” Ha ha haaaaaa. Couldn’t resist that one.

Better stop here. Wouldn’t want to upset you.

Sweet pea

Here is a place where you can find a shark mating.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/0213_060213_shark_video.html

However, I have been told that sharks have been the home of aliens for millions of years. I have also seen while wearing a shark suit that they are designed to protect and preserve the oceans and seas.

They are sometimes predator and sometimes prey. They are at all times host for aliens. The contest between them, the octopuses, the giant squids, and denizens of the deep sea that have yet to be discovered by earthilings is the way aliens wage war on earth to settle their differences.

Humans have been killing sharks at such an alarming rate that the aliens may abandon them as hosts. Should that happen the oceans and seas will be over run with creatures with no natural enemies. They will eat and pollute their environment into an ecological disaster.

Sir

Mildred.

I love sharks! I didn’t think you’d find a whole lot of info, they are the mystery of the sea, I looked up awhile ago after watching the ‘shark week’ specials on Discovery a few years back, amazing how little they can study. I’m totally concerned that one day my doorbell will ring and I’ll hear, ‘landshark’ and they’ll insist on building a huge pool in my backyard. Oh wait, what backyard? I live by the beach, you don’t get one of those here : (
Yes, I am oh so concerned they’re taking over the world…

Just watched the olympic opening ceremony, TIVo’d it due to road trip, wow, I love symmetry in form in the drumming, the tai chi masters…wow, this is the first time I would’ve wanted to seen it in person.

Anonz, I have my tech man looking into the e-mail sitch on my site, unfortunately when my friend ‘upgraded’ my site he loaded it with all kinds of techy s**t I know nothing about, it’s all a ploy to MAKE me read his book, I’m thinking I’m his guinea pig for the dumbed down version they want him to write next, hahaha…he picked the right person.

Sweet pea, you make me laugh, your friend thinks you (or both of us?) need a padded room? Does she think you’re crazy for flirting with some on-line blogger woman named Zen??

One more thing, clearly you show your face in public, so why would you not show me :( ??? Now, that’s crazy ; )

Have a peaceful Sunday, Zen