Tick tock, tick tock. That’s the sound of a clock as it prepares to wake you for work. But, sadly, no matter how hard it tries, it will never win. You see, alarm clocks around the world fight constant battles on a daily basis and lose. Don’t get it wrong – the morning people are up and out of bed before the clock strikes 7:30am. However, plenty of people just can’t shake themselves out of their pit in the morning.
Employers hate this because it’s a waste of time and money, and they aren’t above punishments. Anyone who thinks their boss is going to take the high road needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror! It’s obvious that you need to change your ways for the sake of your career, and it is possible.
All you have to do is check out the common reasons for lack of punctuality and how to fight back.
Slept In.
“Sorry boss, but my alarm clock didn’t go off again this morning.” Of course it didn’t, which is why you are forty-five minutes late and in the bad books. Once in a blue moon isn’t a massive issue as long as your punctuality history is on point. When it happens every Monday, it will stunt your career and potential for a promotion. Thankfully, the solution is simple: set two alarms. Then, should the first one not work (wink, wink), the second one will kick into action. Also, try setting the alarm for an earlier time and staying in bed. That way, you can be warm and comfy while the body catches up with the brain.
Hangover.
Everyone has been there when a causal couple of beers on a Sunday turn into a session. Before you know it, it’s way past your bedtime and the body is not going to get enough sleep. Then, you wake up in the morning feeling like a bear with a sore head and fall back to sleep. Sure, the hangover may subside, but your boss’s anger won’t. Plus, there are no excuses because the smell of stale beer is too strong. If you do like to enjoy your weekends, make sure you get home at a decent hour. The good thing about drinking on Sunday is that you can start and finish earlier and still get plenty of sleep.
Traffic.
As far as excuses go, blaming the traffic is a classic. It’s almost as used as saying the alarm didn’t go off. In truth, a line of cars is a cause of lateness. No matter how much you want it to move, it stands still until the very last minute and causes chaos. Even a five-minute delay is enough to put back your morning schedule. The only way to beat the traffic is to get out in front because setting off ten-minutes earlier should mean the roads are clear. Or, you can leave the car at home and get on public transport. Just don’t blame the train conductor should it be late!
Bad Routine.
The habitually late are not stupid and know they are never on time. Still, no matter how hard a person tries, he or she can’t seem to shake the habit. It’s almost like an addiction, such as smoking, but without the disgusting chemicals. You would love to drop it, but you can’t because the chain is almost impossible to break. Mastering time management is a mental skill which takes place in the brain. The first step is to recognize that you have a problem which needs addressing. The second step is to take action, such as enrolling in a time management course. On a training course, the experts can teach you the basics which will help get your lazy ass out of bed!
Bad Weather.
Now that the fall is here and winter is on the way, the weather will get worse. In fact, it may legitimately stop you from attending work because snow can cover the roads. However, it should only do this when the conditions are too extreme to travel. If it’s just sleet or ice, there is no excuse to stay at home. To figure out what constitutes bad weather, get in touch with a colleague and ask them their plans. Or, even call the office in advance and gauge their reaction. A legitimate snow day won’t get any blowback from the hierarchy.
Employees that are not punctual are always on the edge because employers won’t take lateness much longer.
