We are always encouraged to be prompt and early. We are always taught to frown upon people who are tardy and late because they are deemed as those who have no regard or respect for the time of other people. A person’s tardiness can often really affect the lives of other people especially when the stakes are high. That’s why a lot of people who have a reputation for being late or tardy are often placed in a bad light as compared to those who always show up on time.
However, recent findings have shown that there is actually some good to come out of being late all of the time. You already know that people hate it whenever you show up late for meetings, dates, gatherings, or parties. You know that it hassles a lot of people whenever they have to adjust their lives because of your late arrival. But did you know that science says that showing up late consistently shows a direct correlation with success and life expectancy?
Recent studies have suggested that certain shared personality traits between people who are always late are more likely to have longer and more successful lives.
As the studies have suggested, having a very loose and liberal sense of time can be linked to overall positivity, optimism, and happiness. This is indicative in a type B personality, and a likelihood to engage in multitasking so as to make sure that more things get done within a finite amount of time. That’s why a lot of these people who constantly late tend to be the ones who live happier and find more success in their lives as well.
A person with a type A personality, someone who is generally organized and on time a lot, is more likely to perceive time as something that is fleeting and passing them by ever so quickly. On the contrary, a person with a type B personality is someone to be more creative and perceives time to move slower. In the end, the person who is less concerned with getting to a particular place at a particular time is happier and more at peace.
According to a team of experts from Harvard Medical School, people who generally have an optimistic and more cheerful disposition are more likely to live longer – which is a trait that is associated with being late and tardy all of the time. These are people who tend to be more optimistic about time management as a whole.
The study indicated:
“More impressive is the impact of a positive outlook on overall health and longevity. Research tells us that an optimistic outlook early in life can predict better health and a lower rate of death during follow-up periods of 15 to 40 years.”
Yes, of course, to a lot of people, being late is still something that is going to do a lot more harm than good. Even though the findings of this study say that there are a lot of benefits to be had from not caring too much about time, you must always still make it a point to stay mindful of the people around you.
Yes, you might have better life expectancy if you don’t let time stress you out a lot, but being late at your job could cost you that promotion or raise that you have been waiting for the longest time now. There is always a trade-off. Not to mention the damage to your reputation and overall public image.