總是勉強在最后一分鐘趕到公司？赴約時就算提前打出幾小時的富余，最后還是會遲到？有人說這是拖延癥的表現，可專家說，這種情況叫chronic lateness（慣常遲到）。

Do any of the following sound familiar?

下面這些描述，你覺得耳熟嗎？

** You're always rushing at the last minute, even though you've promised yourself countless times that you wouldn't let this happen again.

你總是在最后一分鐘時沖向目的地，雖然之前你已經無數次告訴自己不會讓這一幕再次發生。

** You've tried setting your watch several minutes ahead, but you're still late.

你已經把手表調快了幾分鐘，可你還是遲到了。

** You may be punctual for work (barely) but you're usually at least 20 minutes late for meetings, appointments, class, church, theater or other non-work situations.

可能上班的時候，你勉強能做到準時；但在會議、預約、上課、教堂、劇院及其他非工作場合，你通常都會遲到至少20分鐘。

** You make excuses, such as: "There was traffic," or "Something came up," or "I was going to call you but I didn't want to be even more late."

你會找借口，比如“堵車了”，或者“臨時有事”，又或者“我本來想給你打電話的，可我覺得太晚了。”

** People become impatient or angry at your tardiness.

人們因為你的遲到而不耐煩或者生氣。

** You believe that you are more motivated when in a time crunch, or that you move faster under pressure.

你認為時間緊張的時候你更有動力，或者壓力會讓你動作更快。

If you can identify with 2 or more of the above, you have a problem with punctuality, normally known as chronic lateness. Chronic lateness is related to procrastination. Latecomers and procrastinators have trouble NOT with time, but with self-discipline. They may also have underlying anxiety about the task they're faced with.

如果以上描述中，你有兩項以上為肯定回答，那么你在遵守時間方面可能有問題，這種問題就是“慣常遲到（chronic lateness）”。“慣常遲到”跟拖延癥相關。經常遲到的人和患有拖延癥的人不是在應對時間方面有問題，而是不夠自律。另外，也有可能是他們對面前的任務有焦慮情緒。

If you have problems with being punctual, especially for things that are a bit threatening, such as doctor's appointments, new social situations, or meeting with people you don't like, then your lateness is anxiety-based. Putting off the inevitable is how your mind tries to cope with anxiety.

如果你總是遲到，在諸如醫生約見、新的社交場合或者與你不喜歡的人碰面等一些你害怕面對的事情上尤其明顯的話，這種遲到多是焦慮引起的。就算不可避免，也要盡量延后，這就是大腦應對焦慮情緒時的做法。

But if you are habitually late for routine business and for events that don't cause you much discomfort, then the problem is mainly with self-discipline and your “inner brat,” the part of you that balks at exerting itself, and at being told what to do.

但是，如果你已經習慣在任何常規工作和活動場合遲到，那就是自律問題了，還有你心里那個“頑劣的自己”，那個阻止你努力上進、不讓你聽從引導的自己。

相關閱讀

什么是“有效拖延”？

夜貓子的“吸血鬼時間” Vampire time

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）

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