The bridge that is open, a delay with the train or another traffic jam due to an accident. We all get late for work sometimes and often there's nothing you can do about it. Once you arrive at work, you will immediately be behind schedule and there is a good chance that you will have to work overtime. Especially delicious on a Friday evening. And then we haven't even mentioned the reproachful looks from your colleagues when you come in a little later in the morning. And why? You can't do anything about the fact that the bridge was open, can you? That's right, but perhaps you could have taken this delay into account. What else can you do to stop being late for work? With the 10 ways below you will never be late for work again!
Methods and preparation
Are you not a morning person? Then make it easy on yourself and prepare as much as possible the evening before your working day. For example, consider packing your bag, collecting the necessary papers, laying out your clothes or preparing your breakfast. Try this routine and you'll be amazed at how much time you save, you might even become a morning person.
A good night's rest
It is very tempting to start one Netflix episode late in the evening, then go to bed a little later. For some people this does not have to be a problem, because 8% of adults can get by with less than 6 hours of sleep. For the other adults, an average sleep of 7 to 8 hours per day applies, so that one episode can do a little more harm. Sleep has a huge impact on your system in the morning, let alone productivity at work. So do your body and mind a favor and go to sleep on time. Once you're in bed, don't spend another XNUMX minutes on your smartphone! The blue light from your smartphone has a negative influence on your sleep-wake rhythm.
Don't snooze
Just hit snooze and sleep for another 5 minutes. Snoozing seems harmless, but it is not without reason that you sometimes hear the colloquial saying “you snooze, you lose”. Snoozing is not good for your system at all. According to researcher Timothy Morgenthaler, every sleep consists of a 90-minute cycle and by snoozing you interrupt this cycle, which actually makes you wake up more poorly. In addition to having trouble getting up, snoozing also increases the risk of oversleeping! Are you really addicted to snoozing? Then take on the challenge with yourself and keep a score of how many days in a row you haven't pressed snooze.
Alarm when you have to leave
Once you get up, the morning rituals begin: showering, having breakfast, walking the dog, watching the news, etc. The danger is that you completely lose track of time during this ritual. To prevent this, you can set an alarm when you have to leave. Nowadays everyone has a smartphone where you can easily set such an alarm or opt for an old-fashioned egg timer.
Keys in a fixed place
Your morning ritual is ready, you are ready to leave. Where are your keys? You put this on the table yesterday, right? After half an hour of searching you discover that these are still in your other jacket and that is why you are late for work. Avoid this kind of inconvenience and put your keys in a fixed place from now on.
Plan to arrive early
Over time you know exactly how long it will take you to get to work, but due to a small unforeseen circumstance you are already late. Therefore, plan to arrive too early and not on time. For example, does it take you 30 minutes door to door to get to work? Then leave 40 minutes in advance. This way you create a margin for unforeseen circumstances, such as a motorway that is closed due to construction work.
Wear a watch
Of course, nowadays you can also easily check the time on your smartphone, but the danger is that you quickly become distracted by all kinds of (social media) apps. So try wearing a watch to become aware of the time. Are you really a latecomer? Then buy an old-fashioned watch, because the upcoming smartwatch will most likely only make you more distracted.
Disorganized roommates
Your partner with whom you are riding cannot find her smartphone, your child has lost his or her schoolbook or someone is taking a shower for half an hour. Even if you are (eventually) organized, that does not necessarily mean that your roommates are too. Prevent unexpected delays, for example let your children pack their school bags a day in advance and make sure someone else doesn't make you late.
Refuel
Do you travel a lot by car? Then try refueling the weekend before the working week. Refueling takes more time than you think, especially during busy rush hour. Do you have an electric car? Then make sure you also charge it the weekend before.
Analyze
Still late for work? Then try to analyze why you were late. Did you go to bed too late? Could you have checked whether there was a traffic jam so that you could work from home first? Learn from your mistakes so as not to be late in the same way in the future.
Do you always arrive at work on time, but do you not get the most out of your day? Then discover the training time Management and gain insight into your “personal time management”.