Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenged

This book was absolutely enlightening. I found myself regularly apologizing for being late, panicking trying to get out the door, sweating bullets wondering if I'd "make it" this time, and generally exhausted and stressed out. The worst part was that I had no idea why I was doing this. I tried working on my time management, organization, and procrastination and still the same thing. I was truthfully baffled and had no idea what to do.The author argues that, while people who tend to be chronically late do tend to rate more highly on time management difficulties and procrastination than people who aren't, the problem can't be reduced to just that. Contrary to what other people sometimes think, it's generally not that we're just being jerks or that we don't care about inconveniencing other people (although she does point out that there is a minority of people who like the feeling of power that comes from making other people wait for you; Albert Ellis also argues in his book on procrastination that sometimes people procrastinate due to hostility).This book helped me finally understand what my problem was. Actually, several really. The big one is that this book helped me realize how "magical" my view of time was; for example, if I was leaving late I'd rationalize it with "oh well, it's not a big deal if I leave late, I'll just make up time on the way over there." I also had the belief that it was somehow a waste of my time to be early to things; I "shouldn't" waste my time like that and if I did it would be awful and I couldn't stand it. (Albert Ellis would have a field day with that one).For example, there was a particular meeting I'd consistently be 10 - 15 minutes late to; I realized that, since it was 2 - 3 blocks from the meeting I had right before it, I was assuming that I could get between them instantaneously. After reading this book I reluctantly admitted to the person I was meeting with that I would probably need more time; I added a 15 minute gap between the meetings and I haven't been late since. The person I'm meeting with is grateful because she was highly annoyed by my chronic lateness.There's also the classic "just one more thing before I go" tendency that a lot of us have (and I frequently fell into).I was able to put together a list of a bunch of the beliefs I have that support my chronic lateness and share it with my therapist, so now we have a basis for us to start working on these things.I'll admit I have been late since I read this book. However, I'm already starting to get better and I have a basis for improvement. This book has given me hope that it's possible to change and a method for doing so.My minor gripe with this is the title, which seems like overpromising to me in a way. (The author also seems to reiterate the "never again" idea in a few places). I think that with a really ingrained habit like this change will be incremental. My concern is that this can lead to a really black and white view of change - if you decide "well, now I really won't be late ever again!" and then you are, it might be tempting to say "to heck with it, why even bother to try?" I know I've done that with previous behavior change efforts. For example, when I first tried to budget I decided that, not only would I budget, I'd do a perfect budget. Of course I eventually made some mistakes and quickly decided that if I was just going to mess up anyway, why bother to do a budget at all? When I finally got back to budgeting, I decided that I wasn't going to do a perfect budget, just a good one. Lo and behold, I'm actually following a budget now - I've saved a lot of money, am watching my 401(k) grow, and have paid off $35,000 in debt. Point being that if you really take the title literally, you're more likely to get discouraged and give up if you fail.Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book. I've read lots of books on time management and procrastination and this has by far the simplest explanation of why I'm late. Its exercises are easy to follow, but even if you don't do them (or come back to them after reading the book) it'll still give you ideas about how to change. If you're sick of where you're at now, you owe it to yourself to read this.

I've always been a chronically late person. But I’m also tired of being one. I got this book because I wanted to end the frustration that came with my lateness. I tried looking up different ways of taking action. I tried waking up extremely early or taking a different mode of transportation to work but none of them was effective. It’d still come in late today or tomorrow. And each time I’d try and fail it added to my guilt and grief. And so I told myself I want to change this –for good. I guess I stumbled upon this book while looking for the right resources. And I’m extremely glad I did.I saw it got really good reviews online and I even downloaded the sample first. The tone of the book was very easy to read but the ideas it had were powerful. So I bought the book. And I’d read it to my commute or before bed. And I wasn't rushing myself to finish through it quickly. That wasn't the tone of this book. Because being late is a habit that does take time to overcome. It helped me identify what kind of late person I was. And it assured me I wasn't alone on this. For each chapter in this book, it presented the problem, the reason and the actionable steps that you can take now.From being almost 30 mins or so late to work I started coming in just 15 mins late. Wow. For me, that’s a really huge win. Fifteen minutes is a lot. It can separate the late person from the on-time person from the early person. (You’ll read about it in the book.) I’m amazed to see my results in these 2 months. When I started reading this, I made a “Late Diaries” journal/calendar to see my progress and track the book’s effectiveness as well. I clocked in the time I slept, woke up, got up, left the house and arrived at work. And I added simple notes like I came in first to work today because so and so. I kept it brief. I TOLD MYSELF, I CANNOT BLAME TRANSPORTATION FOR BEING LATE. That was one of my conditions. Eventually I was coming to work on-time. I woke up and left the house almost the same time daily. Those excess fifteen minutes slowly disappeared. And guess what, it rid me of my frustration and guilt!What this book taught me is a very valuable thing. It taught me self-awareness. I realized that I have this much time and this is what I’m going to do with this time today. It’s that simple. I even changed my journal to the “On-Time Diaries (Formerly the Late Diaries)”. For me I usually get afraid when I can accomplish something today but tomorrow I can’t. THIS IS THE STRUGGLE OF SELF-DOUBT. And I've had it for a long time. But having finished this book, I’m not afraid of my time anymore. I’m aware that I can get myself to work on time today and tomorrow. And surprisingly enough it helped me organize other areas in my life as well. If my case seems familiar to you, then I urge you to PICK UP THIS BOOK AND READ IT. Sometimes it’s about fear and the negative self-talk that put us in a helpless situation. But this book might just be your solution. How else can you explain why I woke up early today -on a Saturday, with no work obligations and no scheduled whereabouts?

I've been 'chronically challenged' ever since I can remember. In fact, my headmaster at infant school once asked me why I was always late to school when I only lived next-door!This book by Diana DeLonzor helped me to understand the reasons why I'm always late. More importantly, she explains what to do about it. It's now been a month since I finished the book, and I can honestly say I'm a reformed character. Instead of driving to work at break-neck speed in the mornings (and still arriving late), I actually have time to enjoy the journey. Highly recommended!

Brilliant book with loads of helpful exercises, and everything written here rang true to me in one way or another. The author was understanding, empathetic, pragmatic, yet honest and direct. I laughed out loud and wrote countless notes where great ideas had been suggested. This book is such an interesting psychological study and will make you question your own habits and the habits of those around you. It's so refreshing to hear someone talk about this subject without instant scrutiny and disapproval, and instead help you to admit and face your problem with dignity and motivation!

When I got my hands on the book, i couldn't let it go without reading half the book in one shot. Love the handy exercise but more importantly what really helped is the personality type and psychological profiling and explanantion of how or why it may that way or how it affects day-to-day behaviour. Reading about that, was my 'ahha' moment. Everything began to fall in place and at last I finally had an insight into my self-defeating behaviour. I would highly recommend it.

Surprisingly good - there were tips I starting using before I even finished the book and already I see improvements. Really gets to the heart of the issue of tardiness.

Just started reading it and I feel like she knows me so well ! Understanding different reasons why you are late, definitely helps when you're next getting ready to go out. You become more mindful of traps you fall into and how to avoid them!