When we consider the qualities we appreciate most in a professional, punctuality always makes the list. Universal Events associates strive to make being on time a priority, though we recognize that it’s not always easy. These are strategies we’ve learned on how to be a punctual person, especially when it doesn’t come naturally:
• Lie to Yourself: One effective method for tricking yourself into being punctual is to write down appointment times 15-30 minutes earlier than they will actually occur. Your brain will know what you did, but at the same time you’ll see your schedule and feel a need to get moving sooner than usual.
• Get Clear on How Long Things Really Take: Many people don’t realize how long their everyday routines take them to complete. If you ask someone how long their commute is, for example, he or she might tell you the time it takes to drive from home to the office. This doesn’t account for walk time from the house to the car, and from the car into the building – not to mention that the time quoted probably counts on traffic being perfect, and all the lights being green.
• Prepare for a Trip or Meeting the Day Before: At Universal Events, we recognize that part of being punctual is having a sense of urgency. For instance, if you know you’ll need a suit tomorrow, lay everything out tonight.
Being punctual is an ability that, with enough effort, anyone can master. For more Universal Events tips on being a successful professional, visit universalevents-inc.com.
