Starting Early is the Key

Abigail T. Sarmiento

When you ask a typical person or family about what stresses them out the most, it is rare that someone does not include the fact that they are always running “a few minutes behind.” Whether you are off to a meeting, work, the airport, a neighborhood picnic, a typical day in office, or church, it seems that most of us almost always find a way to wait until the last possible minute to leave, thus running a little late. This tendency creates a great deal of unnecessary stress as we are constantly thinking about who is waiting for us, how far we are behind schedule, and how this often occurs. Invariably, we end up clutching the speed, and worrying about the consequences of being late. Running late makes us feel stressed out and encourages us to sweat the small stuff.

This ever so common problem is easily solved by simply giving yourself an extra ten minutes to get yourself and your family to your appointment. Irrespective of where you are headed, tell yourself that, no matter what, you are going to be ten minutes early instead of waiting until the last possible moment to rush out the door.

The key, of course, is to start early, getting ready a little earlier than usual, and to be sure you are all the way ready before you start doing something else. I cannot tell you how much this simple strategy has helped me in my own life. Rather than constantly scrambling for things, I am now usually ready with plenty of time to spare. Do not fool yourself that these extra ten minutes are not significant – they are. The extra few minutes before and between a stressful day and a joyful day, can make a difference.

In addition, you will discover that when you are not running late you will be able to enjoy rather than rush through the different things you do each day. Even simple, ordinary events can be great fun when you are not in a hurry.

When you are done with one activity, leave a little earlier for the next one. When possible, try to schedule your activities, work, play, and everything else a little further apart. Finally, don’t overschedule.

If you implement this strategy, you will be amazed at how much more relaxing your life will seem. The constant sense of pressure, of rushing around, scrambling, will be replaced with a quiet sense of peace.

The author is ADAS

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III at DepED Division of Mabalacat City