A Simple Method to Never be Late Again

Have you ever been so deep into something that time flies by? If you are sometimes in the flow state you might have been there.

The problem?

Photo by Age Barros on Unsplash

We don’t want to easily step out of flow because of other obligations. So we tend to underestimate the time it takes to get to the meeting room or the venue where you are expected.

And then you are arriving late.

It happens to me sometimes, and honestly, I don’t feel great about it. I’m usually someone who’s got things under control and stays organized, so showing up late just doesn’t feel like me.

But there is a simple strategy that can help.

Simply leaving earlier doesn’t work because you’ll play it down when the moment comes (actually according to the agent-theory it is the agent controlling you at that moment). as you are already used to the stressful feeling before an appointment.

However, you can reprogram yourself by setting yourself a small/short but specific task. Think of it like a side quest. This task (it can be something simple like answering an email) must be completed at the destination before the appointment.

This way, the agent who is responsible for driving off is still in a stressful situation and is more likely to agree to leave earlier.

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Thank you for reading! I picked up this method in the book Anleitung zur Selbstüberlistung – a German book on how to overcome your inner barriers by influencing the agents who are responsible for controlling you at a particular moment.