People who are always late are a different breed of individual. Being late is completely normal and preferred for them.
Dealing with people who are always late takes patience. I could never understand the concept of habitual lateness until I dealt with my middle son. He’s always late. Of course, he was diagnosed with ADHD just a couple of years ago. And that explains so much. However, there is something deeper about his tardiness.
Truths about people who are always late
While you’re struggling to ensure that you’re always on time, people who are always late are calm and collected. It’s strange, isn’t it?
Well, you see, perpetually tardy folks believe they can do anything in any amount of time, no matter how contrary this may seem. They seem to be masters of procrastination as well. Here are a few more traits of people who are always late, and how these traits work for their benefit.
1. Great at multitasking
Late people often multitask. They try to accomplish as much as possible in a short period. You won’t see these people finishing one task before moving to another. Instead, they juggle multiple projects and, unfortunately, often miss their deadlines.
This can be detrimental when it comes to completing school assignments or work projects. However, it might yield better results, even if they are late. You’ll notice this common trait among your late friends.
2. They are thrill seekers
While they might not admit it, tardy people seek thrills in life. The feeling of almost missing a deadline or barely making it to work is exciting. While this sounds negative, it’s stimulating for those who are always late.
The adrenaline rushes and the heart pounds as the tardy individual races through the door and slides into their workstation, either barely on time or very late. And they always seem to have a smile on their face, too. People who are always late also tend to like thrilling sports as well.
3. Time is a different concept for them
In most cases, late people have no real concept of time. They may say 30 minutes and take 2 hours to complete something.
My son, for instance, will say he’s meeting me for lunch at 12 and won’t usually be ready until 2. And I’ve learned this about him. So, when I want him to meet me at 12, I say 10 in hopes that he might just be on time. This works well.
I also know someone whose employee is always late on deadlines, so she tried this system too. It worked for her as well. Now her employee is always on time… kinda.
4. They are more optimistic
People who are always late are strangely optimistic, studies show. They do not even stress as much as everyone else when they are late. You see, they always think they can accomplish more than they do, and this is just plain positive thinking.
I’m not advocating being late, because I’m late myself, much of the time. It’s just that late people do not miss any sleep over their issues because, to them, there is always a silver lining.
5. They are more creative
People who are often late tend to think creatively. They discover new ways to accomplish tasks more efficiently and in unique manners.
My son, who has ADHD, constantly has a mind full of thoughts; the ideas just keep flowing. I understand this because I also have ADHD, and gaining insight into this way of thinking helps me empathize with those who run late.
We spend much of our time contemplating all the different ways to achieve something, even while we should be focusing on getting something done. What a conundrum, huh?
6. Usually successful later in life
Being late will set you back in life. But how far it sets you back is unknown. It’s different for each person. But when people who are always late finally achieve something, it’s substantial. Sometimes they become successful much later in life than those who were always on time. And they are okay with this.
7. Are confident individuals
People who are always late are sure of themselves. Even though they understand how many times they’ve been late in the past, they are confident of how much they can get done. It’s strange, and you might think they are fools.
On the contrary, they are aware of their habits, but still try to be better each time. But even though it’s important to be on time, tardy people see doing a good job as more important.
8. They may live longer
A Harvard University study reveals that people who are optimistic live longer. This is because optimism is linked to lower blood pressure and a healthier heart, as stress does the opposite. So, in theory, late people would have better health. Their blood pressure is lower and there is less risk of heart disease among these individuals. They are just not worried about being late, hence no stress.
Late people are not bad people
I want to make two things very clear. Being late doesn’t make you a bad person, but being late isn’t always acceptable. Being late can cost you a job, friends, or even a relationship. It’s important to know how to be on time sometimes.
With people like myself and my son, it can be quite difficult to organize the many thoughts and ideas we want to express. As a result, we often run out of time.
There are a few tricks like the one I mentioned above, like lying about the actual deadline, hence actually causing the late person to be on time. Yeah, that works well. Feel free to share other ideas about how late people can meet deadlines. Let’s help each other succeed and open minds to new ways of thinking.
This is what learning is about.
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