While we are all faced with a frantic morning every now and then, one Australian scientist says there are certain personality types that are prone to ‘chronic’ lateness.
Appearing on Today Extra recently, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki said lateness is often a trait of four distinct personalities – The Dreamer, The Crisis Maker, The Perfectionist and The Defier.
‘If you are a really obsessive person who is really driven by goals then if one minute ticks by you think “Oh my God the whole minute has gone by” but you only thought it was 56 seconds,’ Dr Karl said.
‘If you are a relaxed and laid back person the minute goes by and you don’t even worry about it.’
1. THE DREAMER
These people will be in a hotel room and think “I can have a shower, pack, get down to the lobby, check out and be in a taxi within three minutes”,’ Dr Karl said.
In his book, Karl, the Universe and Everything, Dr Karl said ‘Dreamers live in a different reality’.
‘They see travel times as really short – and imagine that it’s perfectly reasonable to fit five jobs into a five minute window.’
Dr Karl recommends travel apps on a smartphone to help these people as it helps them to ‘see the reality of the situation on a screen’.
These people will be in a hotel room and think think “I can have a shower, pack, get down to the lobby, check out and be in a taxi within three minutes”,’ Dr Karl said
2. THE CRISIS MAKER
‘These people think they will only perform well if there is a lot of stress on them and they love the adrenaline rush,’ Dr Karl said.
‘Their motto is “If it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would ever get done”.’
These people ‘don’t start until just before the deadline’ and ‘prefer desperately rushing to get to their next appointment, than strolling calmly into the building five to 10 minutes early’.
Dr Karl recommends these people get their adrenaline rush from physical activities instead of an approaching deadline.
‘These people think they will only perform well if there is a lot of stress on them and they love the adrenaline rush,’ Dr Karl said
‘Their motto is “If it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would ever get done”
3. THE PERFECTIONIST
‘Even if they know they have to be at a meeting Perfectionists will insist on having the dishwasher packed perfectly first,’ Dr Karl said.
Dr Karl said the Perfectionist’s appearance and the project they’re presenting also have to be perfect ‘ but they ‘don’t realise that arriving late at the meeting rules out the possibility of a perfect presentation’.
The scientist recommends these people ‘learn to see the big picture, and realise that small details can be left till later’.
‘Even if they know they have to be at a meeting Perfectionists will insist on having the dishwasher packed perfectly first,’ Dr Karl said
4. THE DEFIER
‘This is the person who wants to stand up against the filthy capitalist oppressors by being late deliberately,’ Dr Karl said.
Dr Karl said these people ‘feel somebody has to stand up against the broad authority of our existing societal constructs that tell us what to do, and when to do it’.
These people, Dr Karl said, need to focus on being “pro-active” rather than “reactive”.
‘This is the person who wants to stand up against the filthy capitalist oppressors by being late deliberately,’ Dr Karl said.