I open the app, enter the location and wait for the response. 15 minutes wait time. Too early to confirm, I finish up tasks and get ready to go. I will need to wait because it’s too early.
I try to wait patiently. As I hit the open road, I check again. Now 7 minutes wait time. Still too early.
I wait through two songs on the radio and then I check. Now 2 minutes wait time. Still too early. I’m not even half way there.
I wait two more songs and this time when I check it says 22 minutes wait time. I click confirm. It’s a mental high five as the plan seems to be coming together. I click on “countdown” so I can check the time when I am closer.
As I coast to a stop at that first red stoplight, I almost panic.
TWO Minutes!
No way. Not going to happen. What was too early now feels so late. How on earth did that happen?
I push the upper limits as I safely make it through the next two green lights, turn the corner and see that I still have two minutes on the screen.
Simultaneously, I park, grab my mask, and my billfold.
It’s time!
Haircut time!
How do you allocate time? Do you plan backward from an arrival time? How often do you check the time? What are your coping mechanisms when the plan seems to go “awry”?
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I can relate to this! I don’t want to be too early, try to fit in other things that “need” to be done, and wind up panicking because I’m almost late. My husband has given me the nickname “11 minute” because he says that’s how late I always am. For set routines (like getting to work each day”, it’s not a problem! I know I have to leave no later than 7:00. It’s this cramming in other errands on the way to an appointment where I become my own worst enemy.
Yes, squeeze in just one more thing when time is already tight! That’s me, too!
Time seems to be an issue with lots of things in and out of school. I never seem to have enough time, so I get up early to write or to read. I find 20 minutes of reading in the morning equals 40 minutes or more after dinner when I S-L-O-W down. I try to do any writing in the morning if at all possible, and it isn’t always possible. I have not used timers. Hmmmm…. maybe certain tasks could be accomplished if I did. I’ll give it a try!
Lynne,
I use timers all the time. Some I ignore. They are just guidelines! Others are more specific – not set in concrete, but more than a guideline!
I had no idea … the suspense kept reading quickly want to know what you were doing and what you were waiting for. Relieved to see you made it and smiled when I found out it was a haircut! Will be heading for one, once my arms are healed and my vaccine is in! I’ll be looking extra close on our next zoom call!
The set up the timers to keep customers apart, but it causes me anxiety when trying to time it out. Of course, I can always sit in the car and read!!!
Something about how humanizing a haircut can be!
Yes, the problem of time. How much before the appointed arrival time is acceptable? Hol longer after the appointed time is too late? With sanitizing between clients is the exact time the only acceptable time? One other concern to add to our mounting list.
Sooooo complicated! Yes to all of that!