Do I really have to be on time?

Do I really have to be on time?

My awesome friends, thank you for being here today and for giving me a few moments of your very valuable life to talk about a question that honestly, a lot of students like you wrestle with. “Does it really matter if I'm late to class?” Now, some of you might be thinking, “come on, I'm only a couple of minutes late, what's the big deal?” The teacher’s just taking roll, I'm not missing anything important. Listen, I totally get it. I've thought it, I've been there, I've done it. But today I want to do two simple things.

Number one, I want to talk about why students like you are sometimes late to class. Because there are real reasons for being late, it's not just that you don't care or because of a lack of effort.

And number two, I want to share a few reasons for why being on time is actually an advantage that will give you an edge in school, in your relationships, and later on in your job or career. Because, listen, I'm not just here to tell you what to do. Hopefully I can make an educated presentation to you that might actually get you to go “hmm, maybe.” And I promise I'm going to try to do all of this without sounding like a grumpy old dude who’s shaking his fist and saying, “kids these days,” am I right?

So let's get started with the most common reasons for why you might be tardy. Well, of course there are social reasons, right? 

Maybe you're talking or catching up with friends and you don't want to cut it short or be rude. Or maybe you want to make a little entrance into class, like “the fun has arrived.” Or maybe there are some motivation reasons you might not be super interested in the class, or maybe you're not doing so hot in that class and you think “I can just slide in late and it won't really matter”?

Maybe there are some logistical reasons. I know we're getting kind of technical now, but maybe you were stuck in the bathroom, or your locker is like six zip codes away from your next class, or the hallway is looking like a mosh pit at a rock concert. There are also, of course, personal reasons. Maybe you're dragging because you didn't get enough sleep or life's feeling a little heavy right now, or you're feeling a bit low. And if that's the case, I'm so sorry, my friend. We're here to help, and I hope you give us a chance and give the helpful teachers and professionals at your school a chance to help you rise and let a little sunshine into your life. Regardless of the reason, I want you to know something. You're not the only one who struggles with this, so no need to beat yourself up. Instead, let's level up and figure out how to win the game of time a little better. You ready to dive into why being on time actually matters and why you should even care?

1) first impressions and momentum. When you walk into class on time, you're sending a message, my friend, not just to your teacher, but to yourself. That message is I'm here, I'm ready, I'm in the game, and I respect myself and others. And that momentum matters because, and hear me out here, momentum always matters. In fact, my friend, that's one of the little things that I want you to have a little more control over in your life is the momentum in your life. Have you ever seen a sports team that just starts the game flat? They're jogging around, their heads are down, they're out of focus, and before you know it, they fall behind to start losing. Compare that to a team that bursts out of the stadium strong, high energy and sets the tone. That's you when you walk into class on time.

2) Your brain actually works a little bit better. I know it sounds a little crazy, but when you arrive late, your brain has to play catch up. You're trying to figure out where the teacher's at, what you missed, and you're basically juggling mental chainsaws for the first 5 to 10 minutes. But when you're on time, your brain gets the full picture and that clarity adds up, my friend. Not just for one day, but for weeks and months after.

3) It is a life skill. Showing up on time is not just about school, it's practice for life. Employers, coaches, directors, bosses they all notice punctuality. It's like money in the trust bank account. People start thinking, “man, I can count on this person. They respect my time, they respect themselves, and they have some discipline and they respect the team.“ And in relationships, same thing. Being on time shows you value people. And you can't buy that kind of respect! 

4) It's about you winning. Let's be real. No one's handing out trophies for perfect attendance or being on time. Actually, they might, but the real win is how you feel. Being punctual means you're not stressed, not rushing, not walking in late, feeling awkward and behind. Instead, you feel confident, calm and ready. Be honest with me and with yourself. Is that true? I'm sure you can think of a time when you rushed out of your house. You didn't even brush your teeth. You were barely holding on to your pants. Your hair was like a Picasso painting, which by the way, I know is kind of in right now. Your socks didn't match, which once again, it's kind of in right now. And your breath was, well, nuclear, bruh. And look, I know sometimes it's going to be like that. And honestly, the fact that you're even showing up is a total victory! But perhaps with a couple of adjustments, you can make your life a little easier. 

All right, enough preaching. Let's get to practical, right? Here are some things that you can actually do to help you improve a little bit. 

Number one: prep ahead. Now, I might be sounding like your mom, dad or whoever's caring for you, but look, pack your bag the night before. Have your stuff ready. Don't wait until the morning when your brain is half asleep. Baby steps, my friend. 

Number two: set micro goals. Instead of convincing yourself that being late is your grind and part of your cool guy or cool gal aura, and that it doesn't matter, just mentally begin to tell yourself I'm going to be better at being on time, and I'm going to be in my seat before the bell rings three times this week, or in this specific class. And then let's keep raising that bar.

Number three: hack your transitions. If you've got a long haul between classes, don't stop to chat for seven minutes. Say hey, make plans for later and keep moving. You can talk after school, at lunch, or in practice. Keep it friendly and keep it simple. 

Number four: make it fun. Man, this is a big one for me. I hope it's a big one for you, but turn it into a competition with your buddies. Go be a pal of your teacher and catch him up on all the school drama. I promise they will absolutely love that. Doodle, or just chill with the people in your class before it starts. People, adjust your lenses, improve your perspective, and you'll improve how you feel. This is not rocket science. You can take small steps to make this more enjoyable for you. Instead of feeling like you're doomed to be miserable. You got this!

Number five, and lastly: see the bigger picture. What I'm hoping you'll do is that you'll connect punctuality with your bigger goals in life. Better grades, less stress, more respect, and honestly, a little more confidence. Because when you're making the kinds of choices that are intelligent, that create an advantage for you, instead of digging a hole for yourself, you'll notice that you begin to feel more and more in control of your life, and as a result, you will feel more confident.

Listen. Being on time isn't about being perfect, it's not about never stepping up. It's about sending a message to yourself. “I'm intelligent enough to show up on game day.” So, my friend, don't just be cool. Be cool and on time. And I promise you can be both. Because in the end, it's one of the simplest, most underrated ways to give yourself an edge in life. You hear that? That's the bell, my friends. Get to class and let's get her done.

Next