Why are some people always late?



As the saying goes, 'time waits for no man'. Time is always against us, and we just can't stop it. Maybe that's why some of us are always running late for appointments. But if timekeeping is not what you're good at, don't stress. There might be a good reason for your lack of punctuality.



People's attitudes to being on time vary. Some clock-watch and make sure they're bang on time for a meeting. It is, after all, rude to be late, and if you can make it on time, why can't everyone else? But if, like me, you want to make every second count, you might try to squeeze as much as you can into the time you have available. However, when your schedule doesn't run to plan, your punctuality inevitably slips.



People who lack promptness have been described as 'time benders'. Author Grace Pacie told the BBC that "they're the people who don't want to be late, but they have a strange resistance to being early, and they don't allow enough time." They assume their journey to an appointment will always go smoothly, and the train will always be on time!



Perceptions of unpunctual people are almost always negative – even if sometimes wrong. Writing for the BBC, Laura Clarke says: "Being consistently late might not be your fault. It could be your type. The punctually-challenged often share personality characteristics, such as optimism, low levels of self-control, anxiety, or a penchant for thrill-seeking, experts say. It is also possible people are late so not to be conspicuous and to avoid the anxious wait for others to turn up.



Maybe us latecomers should make more of an effort and follow the advice I heard to not 'try' to be on time but 'decide' to be on time. But I know if a meeting or a deadline really matters, then I'll be there. Otherwise relax, even if others are cursing you!



词汇表

time waits for no man 时不我待，时间不等人（强调时间的不可逆转性和珍贵性）

run late for 迟到，赶不上

timekeeping [ˈtaɪmkiːpɪŋ] 守时，准时，计时

punctuality [ˌpʌŋktʃuˈæləti] 准时，守时

vary [ˈveəri] （根据情况而）变化，改变，各不相同

clock-watch [ˈklɒk wɒtʃ] （尤指着急下班）不停地看表，紧盯时间

bang on time [bæŋ] 时间刚好，恰好准时

make every second count 充分利用每一秒，珍惜每一秒

run to plan 按计划进行，如期进行

inevitably [ɪnˈevɪtəbli] 不可避免地，必然地，难免

slip [slɪp] 变糟，下降，退步

promptness [ˈprɒmptnəs] 准时，及时，迅速

time bender [ˈbendə(r)] 时间扭曲者（指因预留时间不足或对早到有莫名抗拒的迟到者）

assume [əˈsjuːm] 假定，假设，认为

unpunctual [ˌʌnˈpʌŋktʃuəl] 不守时的，迟到的

consistently [kənˈsɪstəntli] 一贯地，始终如一地

punctually-challenged [ˈpʌŋktʃuəli ˈtʃælɪndʒd] 难以守时的，不擅长准时的

penchant [ˈpɒŋʃɒŋ] 倾向，爱好，嗜好

thrill-seeking [θrɪl ˈsiːkɪŋ] 寻求刺激的，追求惊险的

conspicuous [kənˈspɪkjuəs] 显眼的，引人注目的

turn up 出现，到来

latecomer [ˈleɪtkʌmə(r)] 迟到者，晚来的人

deadline [ˈdedlaɪn] 截止日期，最后期限

curse [kɜːs] 咒骂，诅咒



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