總是勉強(qiáng)在最后一分鐘趕到公司？赴約時(shí)就算提前打出幾小時(shí)的富余，最后還是會(huì)遲到？有人說這是拖延癥的表現(xiàn)，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(shí)沖向目的地，雖然之前你已經(jīng)無數(shù)次告訴自己不會(huì)讓這一幕再次發(fā)生。

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

你已經(jīng)把手表調(diào)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(shí)候，你勉強(qiáng)能做到準(zhǔn)時(shí)；但在會(huì)議、預(yù)約、上課、教堂、劇院及其他非工作場合，你通常都會(huì)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(huì)找借口，比如“堵車了”，或者“臨時(shí)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?yàn)槟愕倪t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(rèn)為時(shí)間緊張的時(shí)候你更有動(dòng)力，或者壓力會(huì)讓你動(dòng)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(xiàng)以上為肯定回答，那么你在遵守時(shí)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(guān)。經(jīng)常遲到的人和患有拖延癥的人不是在應(yīng)對(duì)時(shí)間方面有問題，而是不夠自律。另外，也有可能是他們對(duì)面前的任務(wù)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(yī)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(duì)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(yīng)對(duì)焦慮情緒時(shí)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(jīng)習(xí)慣在任何常規(guī)工作和活動(dòng)場合遲到，那就是自律問題了，還有你心里那個(gè)“頑劣的自己”，那個(gè)阻止你努力上進(jìn)、不讓你聽從引導(dǎo)的自己。

相關(guān)閱讀

什么是“有效拖延”？

夜貓子的“吸血鬼時(shí)間” Vampire time

（中國日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)英語點(diǎn)津 Helen）

點(diǎn)擊查看更多英語習(xí)語和新詞