If a friend of yours is always late for a get together, they may not respect your time or their own. Although you have feelings about him or her being late, their tardiness may have nothing to do with you. They could have attention deficit disorder, be disorganized or have poor time management skills. You can still tell them their tardiness makes you feel disrespected or that you think they don’t value your time together.

When you verbalize feelings of disrespect you are setting a clear boundary for yourself and your friend. It’s not OK to be late. My feelings get hurt. When you use “I” statements, you’re not criticizing their behavior, you’re simply stating how you feel.

It can be really frustrating when you have a doctor’s appointment, and find out she is running late. Unfortunately we have no control over the doctor’s ability to manage time. The first patient of the day could have been late, and that affected everyone else’s day, including the doctor.

If you are the one running late all the time, there are time management skills you can practice.  

Write down your goals for the day and list them in order of their priority. Put a realistic time frame for each of the goals. Are there enough hours in the day to complete everything? No? What would happen if you took one or two items off the list?

Making clear decisions is a component of time management skills. If you hem and haw or are ambiguous about a decision, you can waste your time and maybe someone else’s, too. Respecting your time can apply to integrity. If you check your personal email or text friends throughout the workday, you are essentially stealing time from your employer. Of course personal crises come up, and having instant access to loved ones can be vital.

Respecting our time often requires us to say no. In other instances we can say yes, but with a limitation boundary. I can help you for an hour. By establishing a time frame, you can still help a friend, and take care of yourself at the same time.

Managing time well necessitates focus and clarity. It can create greater self-awareness and reduces stress. You may also feel a greater sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. Knowing you’ve accomplished your goals can enhance your motivation. It’s all good news.

Evidence-based and built with passion. Our primary purpose at The Kimberly Center is to assist those who are suffering in finding recovery. Restoring a healthier, happier, more productive life, graduates of our program find themselves free from substance dependence and destructive behavior. Call us today for information: 855-4-KCENTER (855-452-3683)