Everyone knows someone who seems to be running behind. Whether it's arriving late to dinner, missing the beginning of a movie, or joining online meetings several minutes after everyone else, some people struggle to be punctual no matter how hard they try. Others quickly assume they're careless or disrespectful.
Psychology suggests the reality is often more complicated. There is no scientific evidence that everyone who is frequently late shares the same personality or motivation. Chronic lateness can result from several interacting factors, including planning habits, attention, personality, workplace demands, and even the way people mentally experience time.
