Are You a Last-Minute Larry or Lucy? The Hidden Cost of Always Running Late

Are You a Last-Minute Larry or Lucy? The Hidden Cost of Always Running Late

Introduction

You know who you are. Maybe you even joke about it—calling yourself a “Last-Minute Larry” or “Last-Minute Lucy” as if it’s a harmless quirk, a personality trait that everyone else should accept. You scramble at the eleventh hour to get ready for work, a dinner date, a flight, or that big meeting you knew about for weeks. You swear you’ll change—next time. But next time always comes too late, and you’re back at it again: hair still damp, bags half-packed, frantically searching for keys while others tap their feet and check the time for the fifth time.

But here’s the part you probably don’t think about: your last-minute chaos isn’t just your problem. It’s everyone else’s too. Every minute you run behind, you steal peace of mind from those who plan ahead. Your lack of preparedness creates stress, tension, and sometimes outright resentment. People who care about you find themselves pacing by the door, calling your name, and silently calculating how many minutes they’re losing because you can’t be bothered to prepare ahead.

Being last-minute might feel like a manageable bit of personal chaos, but it’s actually a ripple that disrupts families, partners, co-workers, and friends. It’s an invisible drain on trust and respect. After all, if someone is always waiting on you, what you’re really saying—without saying it—is, Your time doesn’t matter as much as mine.

This is a harsh truth, but it needs to be said. I’m Bill Conley, a Certified Life Coach, and I’ve worked with countless individuals and couples where chronic lateness or poor time management is the root of frustration and conflict. I’ve seen how resentment builds, how confidence in a relationship erodes, and how personal stress multiplies when one person lives in a self-created swirl of last-minute panic.

We live in a world that’s busier and faster than ever. Being on time is more than a courtesy; it’s a sign of respect for others and for yourself. It shows that you value the commitments you make, that you understand others have schedules, obligations, and emotions too. When you choose to prepare ahead—like a Boy Scout—ready for anything and on time for everything, you give a powerful gift to everyone you meet: peace of mind.

This article is a wake-up call for every Last-Minute Larry and Lucy out there. We’ll break down exactly what your perpetual lateness is doing to those around you and to your own well-being. We’ll explore five ways your habit fuels anxiety and resentment in others, and five reasons why this pattern is deeply unhealthy for you. And finally, we’ll talk about how you can break free from the last-minute cycle and become someone who’s ready, respectful, and reliable.

What Your Last-Minute Habit Does to Others

1. It Disrespects Their Time

When you show up late—or worse, keep people waiting while you finish getting ready—you’re sending a clear message: My time is more valuable than yours. Even if you don’t mean it that way, that’s how it lands. Over time, this perceived disregard chips away at trust and patience.

2. It Causes Unnecessary Stress

Prepared people thrive on order. When they’re ready on time, they’re mentally prepared too—calm, focused, and set for what’s ahead. A last-minute scramble destroys this calm. Watching you dash around in a panic raises their blood pressure, injects worry into the moment, and makes them fret about being late by association.

3. It Forces Others to Lie or Cover for You

At work, if you’re the last-minute one on a team project, someone else has to pick up the slack. If you’re late for a dinner reservation or a school function, your partner or friend often finds themselves explaining, covering, or apologizing for you, embarrassed when there’s really no good excuse.

4. It Spoils Shared Experiences

A family vacation, a concert, a flight—many life moments are time-sensitive. Your delay can mean missed boarding calls, lost tickets, or a ruined meal. It turns joyful events into tense ones. The people who planned ahead feel robbed of the experience they hoped for.

5. It Breeds Resentment

When others feel repeatedly disrespected, stressed, forced to cover, or robbed of precious time, resentment builds. They might stop inviting you or start planning things without you. They trust you less. They feel taken for granted.

Why Being Last-Minute Hurts You

1. Chronic Stress

Rushing puts your body in a constant fight-or-flight mode. Racing the clock spikes adrenaline and cortisol levels, which can raise blood pressure, weaken immunity, and damage your mental focus. The stress you create is self-inflicted, and it adds up over time.

2. Poor Quality Work and Missed Details

When you wait until the last minute, you sacrifice quality. You forget things—packing the wrong clothes, missing key paperwork, skipping breakfast. You make careless mistakes. This erodes your confidence and reputation.

3. Damaged Relationships

People might not always say it out loud, but constant lateness strains relationships. Your friends and family may stop relying on you. Colleagues may question your professionalism. Your credibility takes a hit.

4. Lost Opportunities

Late to an interview? You might not get a second chance. Miss a flight? Lost money. Miss deadlines? Lost promotions. Last-minute living costs you in ways you rarely see until it’s too late.

5. Personal Guilt and Shame

Deep down, most last-minute people know they’re letting others down. This guilt can pile up into shame and self-criticism, which fuels anxiety and makes you less likely to take proactive steps to change.

How to Stop Being Last-Minute

It’s not impossible to change. It starts with honesty and accountability. Write down how your lateness has hurt others and yourself. Start with small shifts: set reminders earlier, lay things out the night before, plan buffers of time for unexpected hiccups. Treat being prepared like an act of love, for you and everyone else.

Be a Boy Scout in spirit: always prepared. Respect starts with readiness.

Conclusion

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to stay stuck as a Last-Minute Larry or Lucy forever. Change is possible, and the benefits are enormous. Imagine stepping into your day with calm confidence, knowing you have everything you need. Imagine arriving five minutes early instead of twenty minutes late, with people greeting you with smiles instead of frustrated glares. Imagine your spouse or kids no longer pacing at the door or anxiously checking the clock because they trust you to be ready when you say you will be.

Preparedness isn’t just a practical habit—it’s a sign of respect, care, and maturity. It honors your commitments and shows the people in your life that they matter to you. It tells your boss that you’re dependable. It shows your partner and kids that you’re reliable. It shows you that you value yourself enough to be calm, organized, and intentional.

If you’re nodding your head right now—maybe with a bit of guilt—remember, this isn’t about beating yourself up. It’s about owning it and making a promise: to do better. To be better. It’s a gift to yourself, too. A life lived in constant rush and panic is exhausting. Your heart, mind, and body deserve better. Peace comes from preparation. Calm comes from routine. Success comes from showing up—fully ready.

So, if you’re ready to break the cycle, start today. Tonight, set out your clothes for tomorrow. Make a checklist for the morning. Put your keys by the door. Give yourself 15 extra minutes. Then use that time to breathe, be present, and show up with intention.

Small changes done consistently turn Last-Minute Larry into On-Time Larry, Last-Minute Lucy into Punctual Lucy. And you’ll be amazed at how people’s attitudes shift when you do. Respect grows. Trust grows. Stress shrinks. And everyone—especially you—is better off for it.

I’m Bill Conley, Certified Life Coach. I’ve seen the transformation that’s possible when you choose to honor your time and the time of those you care about. Be the person who’s ready. Be the person who’s calm. Be the person others can count on. The next time someone asks, “Are you ready?”—answer with a smile and a simple, “I’ve been ready.”

Bill Conley, Certified Life Coach