The Unpunctual Philosophy of a Habitual Latecomer

In our lives, we occasionally meet people who have made a habit of being late. We get confused and angry at their lack of a sense of time, but the truth may be different from what we imagine. These habitual latecomers may actually know better than you or me how to use time effectively.

These habitual latecomers sometimes are not disrespecting time, nor are they unaware of the problem of being unpunctual; on the contrary, they may understand the essence of time more deeply. These people know how to use fragmented time segments to complete various tasks, and they allocate their time more efficiently. They may be thinking about problems, reading information, or handling affairs on the way, rather than idly waiting—that is what people who tap their feet and angrily look at their watches do (just kidding).

For example, if you originally agreed to meet at the movie theater at exactly twelve noon, to arrive on time you would need to prepare in advance for each segment of the action, such as the time waiting for the bus, waiting for the MRT, walking time, and so on. These fragmented times add up to a not-inconsiderable amount of time. Conversely, if you do everything at your own most convenient time, you can greatly reduce these wasted time fragments, thereby compressing your time to the maximum extent and maximizing its value.

However, it is also a fact that the behavior of these habitual latecomers brings inconvenience to others, even if their motive is merely to use their own time more efficiently. But they achieve it through the wrong method, not treating other people’s time as time, and even exhausting other people’s time to use their own time more efficiently. From a socialization perspective, this is undoubtedly a behavior that undermines mutual trust.

In fact, this shift in the concept of time may require us to rethink. Perhaps we should more openly accept these latecomers and try to understand their unique time philosophy. Perhaps we can learn their techniques and maximize the use of time fragments in our own lives. Since they waste our time, we might as well all waste each other’s time—maybe that will actually let everyone use their time to the extreme (just kidding).

Whether we are latecomers or the ones being toyed with as we wait, we can reinterpret the value of time through such thinking. Time is a limited resource, and we should strive to find ways to maximize its use, whether in personal development or in communication with others. Of course, the consequences are your own responsibility.