Help! I Just Found Out I'm a Tidsoptimist Like More Than Half of Gen Z

Tids-what now?

It's official. Along with everything else Gen Z takes the crown for, we are now also chronically late. For everything. All the time.

According to new stats from Uber Reserve, more than half of young Aussies are always tardy, with one in five claiming to leave their pals waiting for between 30 and 60 minutes. Yikes. 

And because we're a generation obsessed with labels, we've even got a word to describe our inability to keep an eye on the time—a Tidsoptimist.

Not sure we're vibing the word, but it's used to describe someone who is constantly late and always thinks they have more time than they actually do.

Umm... hello, yes, guilty. 

So why are we always running behind?

The stats say that a quarter of Gen Z blame it on trying to cram as much as possible into their day, while 20 per cent say they get stuck scrolling through social media or streaming something, and one in three are just straight up leaving things to the last minute.

It's an annoying habit we've all picked up since COVID apprently. Despite lockdowns ending months ago, 55 per cent of Gen Z said they've become less punctual as a result of the pandemic.

And it's something we're getting pretty used to, with only 41 per cent of Gen Z saying they get annoyed when a friend runs late.

"We all run late from time to time, but when someone is habitually late, it can be frustrating for them and others," Psychologist Dr Emmanuella Murray said.

"The truth is Tidsoptimists are not running late deliberately, they are just overly optimistic about time and how long things will take. Crucially, a Tidsoptimist’s positive outlook on time may trick them into believing they hold no responsibility for their lateness.

"This could be harmful to their relationships, so it’s a great idea to nip it in the bud and make the second half of 2022 the year of being ‘fashionably on time’!”

So how do we be better? Dr Emmanuella said it's all about time management.

Get organised and be accountable.

We're sorry to break this to you, but you're never going to arrive on time when you're multi-tasking and overscheduling. Create a routine, prioritise your tasks, and set realistic goals and timeframes.

Plan ahead.

How much time do you actually have? Use time tracking apps or timers to determine how long a task takes before you block it out in your diary or schedule.

Bank some time and always have a standby plan if you're early.

Set a goal to leave 10 minutes earlier to account for unexpected delays. Then pick an activity you enjoy that you can do if you arrive early. Think: reading, calling a friend or listening to a podcast to reward you for being so punctual. Look at you go!

Remember to keep in mind what it's like for your friends or colleagues when you keep them waiting. Their time is precious too!

Arriving on time will not only reduce your stress, but will ensure whoever you're meeting feels respected and you get the most amount of time to do whatever it is you're doing. Being punctual is cool!

Header Image: Disney (edited).