Why Are Men Always Waiting on Women?

 

Why Are Men Always Waiting on Women?

By Bill Conley

Introduction

Ladies, we need to talk. And before you roll your eyes and think this is another one of those articles written by a man who just doesn’t get it, let me say this—this one comes from a place of respect, observation, and a sincere desire to help restore balance and mutual appreciation in relationships. But truth be told, far too often, men are stuck waiting. And waiting. And waiting. It’s become an epidemic of lateness that men silently endure, yet quietly resent.

Let’s be honest: how many times have you told your man, “Just five more minutes,” only for that to turn into fifteen… or thirty? How many dinners, events, church services, movies, or reservations have started late—or been missed altogether—because you weren’t ready on time? How many times have you walked out of the house looking incredible, but completely oblivious to the fact that your man has been sitting in the car for twenty minutes, tapping his fingers, watching the clock, and fighting off frustration?

Men, generally speaking, are wired to value punctuality, planning, and preparedness. They’re raised to believe that time is respect. When someone values your time, they value you. So when your man is ready, dressed, shoes on, car running, and you’re still figuring out which earrings go with which shoes, it’s not just about the delay—it’s about feeling like an afterthought. Like his time doesn't matter.

This isn’t about rushing you through your routine. It’s not about asking you to compromise how you look or feel. It’s about better time management. It’s about planning backwards so you’re ready for him, not in spite of him. It’s about doing the loving thing—not the selfish one. Because the message you send when you make your man wait—again and again—is that you are more important than the plan, the event, or even his patience.

So, ladies, this isn’t a lecture—it’s a wake-up call. You’ve got the power to honor your man in a very simple, very practical way: be ready on time. Even better, be ready early. Let’s put an end to this cultural expectation that “she’s always running late.” Let’s flip the script and start surprising our men with timeliness. Because nothing says “I value you” quite like being ready to walk out the door at the time you promised.

Let’s get to the root of the issue. Why do women tend to run late more often than men? It’s not about laziness or inconsideration—it often stems from two primary things: over-perfectionism and poor backward planning. Women often want to look their best (which is appreciated), but they underestimate the time it takes to reach that level of readiness. They cram in last-minute tasks, assuming they can “squeeze it all in.” But they can’t. And their man ends up pacing the hallway or sitting in the car again.

Now imagine if the roles were reversed. Imagine your man telling you to be ready by 6, and he’s still shaving at 6:20. You’d feel disrespected, annoyed, and probably insulted. You’d be questioning if he even wanted to go. And you'd likely let him know it. But when women are late, it’s often brushed off or justified with, “I couldn’t find my shoes,” or “I didn’t know what to wear,” or the infamous, “You don’t know what it’s like being a woman.”

Ladies, your man gets it. He knows you’re not trying to disrespect him. But intentions don’t cancel out impact. Consistently being late impacts the energy of your relationship. It builds frustration. It makes your man feel disregarded. It puts unnecessary strain on events that should be fun and joyful. And worst of all, it slowly chips away at the mutual respect that is foundational to any healthy relationship.

Here’s what you can do differently:

1.     Start earlier than you think you need to. If you usually take an hour, give yourself an hour and a half. This buffers against surprises—spilled makeup, wrinkled dress, unexpected phone call—and helps avoid the last-minute scramble.

2.     Prepare in stages. Lay out clothes the night before. Do your hair before makeup. Avoid the trap of doing “just one more thing” before getting ready. That extra load of laundry can wait.

3.     Be honest with your man. If you’re behind, say it. Don’t keep yelling, “I’m almost ready,” when you’re not. He’s watching the minutes tick by, and the false promises only heighten the tension.

4.     Make him part of the process. Ask for his input early—what time do we need to leave? What’s the dress code? This shows partnership and consideration.

5.     Celebrate being early. There’s a unique peace that comes from being ready early—no rushing, no sweating, no fights in the car. Just calm, peace, and appreciation.

And men, here’s a tip for you, too: when she’s on time, say thank you. Compliment her. Let her know you noticed. Reinforce the positive. Show gratitude and appreciation, and you’ll be more likely to see the change stick.

Conclusion

Let’s wrap this up with some hard truth wrapped in love. Being habitually late is not a cute personality quirk—it’s a problem. One that affects more than just schedules. It affects trust. It affects peace. It affects the connection. And yes, it affects love.

Time is the most precious resource we have. Once it’s gone, we don’t get it back. So why waste it? Why start a date night or a vacation or a church service already annoyed because one person didn’t respect the other’s time?

Ladies, this article is your invitation to do something radical—be radically on time. Show up early. Be ready before he is. Let him know, through your actions, that he matters. That his time matters.

This isn’t about control. It’s about courtesy. It’s about loving well. It’s about not keeping someone waiting when you have the power to make a simple change.

So next time you're tempted to start curling your hair ten minutes before departure, think about him—waiting, watching the clock, wondering if you even care. Let your preparation speak louder than words. And let your timeliness say what he’s dying to hear: “I value you.”

In the end, relationships thrive not on grand gestures, but on small, consistent acts of respect. And few things say “I respect you” more clearly than being on time.

So ladies, don’t make your man wait. It’s not cute. It’s not fair. And it’s not love.

It’s time to show up early, show up ready, and show up with the message your man has been longing to receive: “I’m here, and I’m ready—for you.”