11x how to arrive stylishly on time

‘Simoon, we’ll pick you up at six o’clock.’ This sentence repeated in my head and I unconsciously adjusted it immediately. Because I knew that six o’clock would easily become half past six. My dear brother along with his partner, always late team. And I tell you: that is an absolute mismatch with the always on time team. At first, I was green and yellow with annoyance. Nowadays, I deliberately arrange to meet them half an hour early to save myself that portion of anger. If you are always on time (or even better, early), it seems like you have everything under control, even if that’s really not the case. But it does give a feeling as if you have everything under control. And that is quite pleasant.

How do I do that? By being well prepared. My eleven golden tips for all latecomers.

1. Set your alarm once.

You snooze, you lose. Yes girlfriend, if you want to arrive on time, you just get up after alarm one. The longer you wait, the harder it gets and the later you will arrive.

2. Prep

Especially in the morning, you save yourself time if you prepare your breakfast the night before (or stack of sandwiches) . Throw your coffee in your bag and you’re out the door in the morning.

3. Check your route

Check in advance how you’re getting to your destination. What is the shortest route and how can I get there the fastest? I always arrive on time at the editorial office in the morning, but ’damn‘ it’s quite a portion when I come to a standstill around the corner of the destination because the bridge is open. And especially when the bridge a hundred meters further is also open. There go your fifteen minutes of buffer.

4. Check the road

Are you driving? Then check the traffic jams, the route, and Flitsmeister in advance. ‘I was stuck in traffic’; so 2013.

5. Plan your appointments generously

Avoid tight schedules. Make sure there is always at least half an hour between your appointments (depending on the distance between your appointments, of course). If your appointment runs late or isn’t on time, at least you know your next appointment is okay.

6. Prepare your things

Prepare the things you need for your appointment the night before. This way, you won’t have to search for that laptop charger, your sunglasses, or contact lenses in the morning. You might think you know where you left your keys or that the coat you wore yesterday is also fine for the next day, but it might just happen that you end up in a crazy rain shower, and where is the raincoat at that moment? Believe me, you have so much less last-minute stress this way.

7. Set your clocks five minutes earlier

My watch is always set five minutes ahead. Simple trick but oh so handy.

8. Always ensure a full battery

Nothing is more annoying than a dead battery halfway through the day. Not only is it extremely annoying if you arrive way too early at the dentist (read: only magazines from 2014 and thus Instagram time), but it’s even worse if you arrive late at the dentist.

9. Extra pair of shoes

Are you strutting around all day like May in a pair of Sergio Rossi’s but need to walk quite a few kilometers? We all know we can’t do that at a NY marathon pace. Throw a pair of sneakers in your bag (team Kiki) so you can walk a bit faster where needed. But also your bag with your headphones and other things you need all day. Again: you might think you know where you left your keys and that the coat you wore yesterday is also fine for today, but you’re probably mistaken. The weather can change and your search for essential items can range from five minutes to half an hour.

10. Planning

Write everything down in your agenda. Call me crazy, but even ‘doing the laundry’, ‘a quarter of an hour in the sauna after exercising’, and ‘taking out the trash’ are now on my schedule. Because you know: in the morning, all time is sacred and every minute counts.

11. Set timers

Set your timer if you’re afraid you might forget certain appointments. That function is on your iPhone for a reason. So just use it.
Little brother, I know you’re reading this. These eleven tips are for you. If you’re on time next time, I’ll treat you.