Lateness isn’t a sign of disrespect
One of Mahatma Gandhi’s most treasured possessions was an Ingersoll pocket watch that cost about a dollar. Adamant about punctuality, the world-renowned pacifist was never without it.
Gandhi lived his life according to a strict timetable.
In his words:
“You may not waste a grain of rice or a scrap of paper, and similarly a minute of your time.”
Today, most of us have our own timetables, with calendar alerts for meetings, appointments, fitness classes, and more.
We constantly look at the time, especially on our smartphones (which we check an average of 47 times per day). And yet, we all know someone who’s chronically tardy. Maybe we are that person.
Why are so many of us still late? And how did Gandhi, with a single pocket watch, manage to be consistently punctual?
Gandhi excelled at something that many of us struggle with: focusing on one thing at a time. In our productivity-obsessed world, tardiness is often a result of trying to do too many things at once.
When we understand why we’re always late, we can improve our own punctuality. And because tardiness doesn’t necessarily signal a lack of respect, we can find ways to support our…
