We all know someone who is often late, whether it’s for a dinner date or a work meeting. So, is there a reasonable explanation for why they are always tardy?
Experts suggest that the habit of being late can result from several factors, including time perception, time management, and personality traits (Photo: Getty).
According to Professor Hugo Spiers, a cognitive neuroscience expert at University College London, “there seems to be a mechanism in the brain that causes some people to be late because they underestimate how much time it takes to get to a meeting.”
The hippocampus is a region of the brain that processes various cognitive factors related to time, such as remembering when to do certain tasks and how long those tasks take. The neurons in the hippocampus act as “time cells,” contributing to our perception and memory of events. However, the exact reason why some individuals consistently miscalculate the time needed remains unanswered.
Another factor could be the individual’s familiarity with their surroundings. In a 2017 study, Professor Spiers asked 20 students who had just moved to London to sketch a rough map of their school and estimate the time it would take to travel to various locations within it.
The results showed that these students estimated a broader area for spaces they were familiar with, but their time estimations for moving between well-known locations were shorter. Professor Spiers noted, “if you are very familiar with a space, you will underestimate the time required in your calculations.”
People who are frequently late often claim they can arrive on time if it’s important. However, they seem unaware that being late for friends and family can also be quite frustrating (Photo: Shutterstock).
In some cases, latecomers do not allocate enough time for travel-related tasks, such as getting ready in the morning before leaving home. Research indicates that we estimate time based on how long we have taken to complete tasks in the past, but our memories and perceptions are not always accurate.
“The more experience we have doing something, the more likely we are to underestimate the time needed to complete it,” says Professor Emily Waldum at Campbell University, North Carolina, USA. In her research, Professor Waldum found that environmental factors, such as music, can distort our perception of time.
Specifically, when performing tasks related to knowledge tests, some individuals inaccurately estimate the time taken because they are influenced by the number of songs they listen to while doing the task. Younger people tend to estimate longer durations if they listen to four short songs compared to two long ones, but this does not affect the calculations of older adults.
Another environmental factor that affects the time perception of chronically late individuals is crowding. In a 2022 study, researchers asked participants to estimate the durations of simulated subway rides that were either crowded or less crowded. The results indicated that crowded rides felt about 10% longer than less crowded ones, likely due to the association with uncomfortable experiences.
Personality also plays a role in being late. Professor Waldum noted that certain personality traits, such as being less conscientious, can lead some individuals to forget tasks they had planned to complete.
Another factor that affects punctuality is the tendency to multitask. Individuals who juggle multiple tasks simultaneously may find it more difficult to remember and complete other scheduled tasks on time. This is because we lack sufficient resources to pay full attention to all our tasks.
Research indicates that passengers on crowded trains feel like they spend more time traveling because they are uncomfortable due to the crowding (Photo: Marko Geber, Getty Images).
Sometimes, latecomers are not even aware that they are late. This is because they convince themselves and tell others that they “can” be on time. They reason that they can manage to be punctual when it’s necessary, especially when there are severe consequences for being late, such as missing a flight.
However, when no deadlines are set, these individuals often lose track of how much time has passed. A 2019 review published in the journal Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics found that individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have difficulty processing and estimating how much time has elapsed.
Some people struggle to be on time because they intentionally procrastinate tasks. Professor Fuschia Sirois, a psychologist at Durham University, UK, suggests that being late can be a symptom of procrastination, rooted in a difficult emotional relationship with the tasks at hand. “The difference between procrastination and being late is that lateness impacts our relationships with others. Those who perceive us as late and are unhappy about it are often the most important people in our lives. Thus, our lateness can cause them significant frustration, especially when we tell them we can be on time if it really matters.”
So, what can chronically late individuals do to improve their situation, ensuring colleagues are not left waiting in meetings and friends and family are not worried or disappointed? One suggestion is to set alarms, reminders on phones, or even establish deadlines before the actual deadline or event. Alternatively, if possible, invite someone to accompany you, which will require you to allocate extra time to meet up at a reasonable hour to arrive on time for the necessary events.
