Common Reasons Why You May Always Be Late

If you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you might have to work a little bit harder at being on time.

This is because common ADHD traits, such as disorganization, inattentiveness, and difficulties with time perception (also called “time blindness”), can all conspire to make you late.

But ADHD isn’t the only reason people have punctuality problems. Social anxiety, depression, or having a laid-back personality can make a person have difficulty with timeliness.

Is chronic lateness a symptom of ADHD?

In particular, many people with ADHD find they have a hard time with punctuality.

Whether you lose track of time, can’t find your keys, or find it difficult to get ready for the day, there are many ways that mental health symptoms can interfere with being on time.

ADHD is linked to the following traits, all of which can be tied to chronic lateness in some way:

Attention regulation difficulties/inattentiveness

You might get easily distracted by the TV while you’re trying to get ready. Conversely, you might become so engrossed in an activity that you forget about other important activities or events.

Disorganization

You might always be late because you can’t find your keys, your phone, or one of your shoes. Disorganization can be tied to impairment in executive functioning, which is a set of abilities that help drive goal-directed behaviors. According to 2015 research, executive dysfunction is common in those who live with neurologic disorders.

Time blindness/time perception difficulties

Time blindness occurs when someone has difficulty estimating how long a task will take or how long they’ve spent on a specific task. Some experts trusted Source asserts that time perception difficulties are so common among people with ADHD that it should be studied more, and possibly added to the diagnostic criteria.

Working memory deficits

ADHD often features working memory deficits. This can lead to difficulties with planning actions, organizing activities, scheduling time, and staying on track. These deficits can lead to problems with being on time.

Gets bored easily

Boredom may cause you to engage in activities as a diversion. Those distracting activities can contribute to the avoidance of other activities you find to be undesirable. A 2016 study suggests that going on the internet or using your cell phone as a way to cope with unwanted feelings can negatively impact a person’s mental health.

Impulsivity

Impulsivity may cause you to lose track of time. For example, you might be getting ready for a dinner date and suddenly get the urge to call your best friend, which makes you leave the house 20 minutes late.

Many other conditions besides ADHD can be linked to chronic lateness. Here are a few of the more common ones:

• social anxiety
• depression
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• narcissism
• substance use disorder (SUD)
• schizophrenia

Of course, not everyone who’s chronically late has a mental health condition. Some people grew up in families or cultures where being late was common and not necessarily looked down upon. Others may simply have more laid-back personalities and not worry about it too much.