And arriving on time got easier after I kicked these to the curb!
I’ve always struggled to manage my time, and often arrived late for meetings, appointments, school and events. Being late seemed to be a trait I couldn’t shake.
Habit 1: Waiting until tomorrow to prepare
The nights were made for sleep and rest – AND – preparing for tomorrow. It’s all about making things easier for your future self.
This is an example of a mental checklist I run through:
- What outfit am I going to wear
- What’s for lunch
- Do I need to put petrol in beforehand
- How many hours do I need to get ready
- Any prior commitments or tasks that need to be completed before I get ready
- What should I pack in my bag
👗Whatever is on my checklist, I do my best to prepare the night before. That can include hanging out my outfit or checking for each item in the cupboard or drawers.
🍱I love packing a work lunch or breakfast. Not only is it convenient, it’s also cheaper! And preparing the night before can include defrosting meats, marinating foods or pre-chopping fruits and vegetables.
🎒Pack your bag the night before: even your shoulder bag or clutch purse! Something as small as an extra pantyliner, phone charger or hayfever medication can have a big effect on your day if forgotten.
Habit 2: Not prechecking my route ahead of time
- How long will it take to get there?
- What route is the fastest/safest/most convenient?
- Are there any events happening that will affect traffic?
Traveling can affect how and when you arrive at your destination.
📳I always check my routes ahead of time, using Google Maps. It has a nifty feature where you can set your depart or arrival time, and it’ll estimate how long it’ll take you to get there and at what time you should leave.
🛟And as a woman traveler, sometimes the safer route is not the most convenient or fastest. This also means factoring extra traveling time and planning ahead of your departure.
🎡Living and working in Cape Town has taught me that all kinds of events could be happening, causing traffic jams and roadblocks and MAJOR DELAYS. Stay clued up with what’s happening in the area you’re heading to via social media or news reports.
Habit 3: PUT THE DANG PHONE DOWN !!!
Doomscrolling on the toilet is eating up your valuable time. And it can easily become part of your ‘getting ready’ everyday, making it a difficult thing to let go. This was honestly a very hard habit I had to kick out.
- What am I seeking when I mindlessly scroll on social media
- Am I avoiding something
- How can I replace this with something productive and meaningful
I realised that getting ready for events or to go to work was an anxious event that made me want to delay and avoid it – by doomscrolling – in turn, I was wasting precious time, which made me run late and up my stress even more!
These are some things I have replaced it with…
📻 Traditional radio is a powerful medium for us who constantly consume social media and short form videos (Tik Tok, Reels, Shorts..etc). Not only does it spark your imagination, and conversation within your home. You can also enjoy music or religious discussions. Also this is so nostalgic for me…
💪Instead of numbing my brain, I’ve starting working off the stress and anxiety through exercise. Before getting ready, whether it’s a quick 5 or 15 minutes, I sweat it out. And end up feeling more energised and strong.
🍬I remind myself that there will be maannyy more opportunities in the day of week to unwind, relax and doomscroll. Like during a lunch break or coming home at the end of the day. And trust me, you will not be missing out on a lot by taking a few hours to be present in your real life.
⏰ Screen timers or limiters on certain apps are very helpful! It’s making sure you stick to it that’s the hard part. But it has become a great reminder for me to look up and busy my mind with housework, reading or chatting with a friend or family member.
🏃♀️I started setting multiple alarms during the hours when I am preparing for the day, as a loud reminder of the time, how much time I have left before stepping out the house. It creates a sense of urgency, and brings me back to reality when time is getting ahead of me.
And as a human being I’m just…human. Mistakes, forgetting and misplacing things are tests that build our character and empathy. And enforce that self-discipline. As my favourite fitness influencer Lindsey from Nourish Move Love says, ‘do your best, forget the rest‘!
GirlOnTheBus 