You’ve probably heard the saying “time is money”. Well, that’s especially true when it comes to business. If you’re not punctual, you’re wasting the time of your employees, clients, and stakeholders. And that’s definitely not good for your bottom line. In fact, there are a lot of business owners who would say that being punctual is one of the most important traits a professional can have. Fortunately, being punctual is a habit that can be learned. It just takes a little bit of practice and some organization. In this post, we’ll share 4 tips to help you become a punctual person.
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Set an alarm
When it comes to being on time, you need to be proactive. One way to do that is to set an alarm clock for the time you need to leave. If you have a smartphone, there are plenty of apps that can help you do this. But don’t just rely on your alarm. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready and factor in traffic, parking, and anything else that might delay you. If you’re running late, don’t stress out—just try to call ahead and let the other person know. Honesty is always the best policy.
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Get ready the night before
Make sure you get ready the night before. That way, you’re not rushing around in the morning trying to get ready. And that’s when mistakes happen. If you have a plan, you’re more likely to stick to it. So, make a list of what you need to do in the morning and make sure everything is ready the night before. That includes packing your bag, making your lunch, and setting out your clothes. If you can, try to wake up a little earlier on the days you have important appointments. That way, you’ll have time to relax and calm down before heading out the door.
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Plan your route ahead of time
This is one wonderful hack to save time and to be punctual. These days, technology has even made it far easier to plan your routes, you can even know which roads are going to be blocked by traffic and avoid them to save time. Planning always makes everything more effecient.
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Set realistic deadlines for yourself
If you know you have to leave for work at 8 am, don’t give yourself until 7:30 am to get ready. That extra half-hour is only going to make you more stressed out.
Other helpful tips include;
Set a reminder on your phone or computer to help you stay on track.
Leave early for appointments, even if you think you’ll be there on time.
Avoid distractions, like checking email or social media, that can keep you from being on time.
You know what they say: “punctuality is the soul of business”!
