Getting to Work on Time

Author: Jojo Varona

Being on time for work is essential. It is something that many employers desire in an employee. In a professional workspace, time is more than just a philosophical concept. Punctuality is important. When you are on time, you appear professional, have lower stress and enjoy other benefits. It affects your image, performance, and relationship with workers.

Unlike work-from-home opportunities, heading into the office requires more than rolling out of bed and turning on your laptop. For many, the commute involves long travel and many more added steps to their morning routine. Between the early hour’s foggy brain and morning rush hour, numerous hurdles arise as you travel from the comforts of your bed to the office.

Here are some tips and tricks for getting to work on time to make a good and professional impression.

• Prepare the night before and lay out your clothes. Doing this before you go to bed will reduce your decision making in the morning and shave off five to ten minutes.

• Organize your morning routine. See if you can decrease the time it takes to get ready in the morning. Shorter showers, cutting out TV watching, and perhaps brewing your coffee at home rather than standing in line at the coffee shop can help you get an earlier start.

• Leave early. If possible, leave for work early to help keep you from feeling rushed or speeding in traffic. In some cases, leaving your house even five or 10 minutes earlier could cut your drive by 10-20 minutes. If you take public transit, anticipate delays and make sure that your bus/train routes are not affected by traffic. Use local apps on your phone to track down transit information.  

• Listen to traffic reports. Know where the trouble spots are and take advantage of alternate routes to avoid sitting in traffic. If possible, join a Carpool group. This will help in two ways. Someone else is counting on you to be on time and in larger cities, it may enable you to utilize the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) Lane, which will speed up your drive time.

These tips for getting to work on time cut out unnecessary time wasters from your schedule and better prepare you for the commute. Implement these time management best practices and show up to work on time, looking like a professional.