总是勉强在最后一分钟赶到公司？赴约时就算提前打出几小时的富余，最后还是会迟到？有人说这是拖延症的表现，可专家说，这种情况叫chronic lateness（惯常迟到）。

Do any of the following sound familiar?

下面这些描述，你觉得耳熟吗？

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

你总是在最后一分钟时冲向目的地，虽然之前你已经无数次告诉自己不会让这一幕再次发生。

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

你已经把手表调快了几分钟，可你还是迟到了。

** 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.

可能上班的时候，你勉强能做到准时；但在会议、预约、上课、教堂、剧院及其他非工作场合，你通常都会迟到至少20分钟。

** 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."

你会找借口，比如“堵车了”，或者“临时有事”，又或者“我本来想给你打电话的，可我觉得太晚了。”

** People become impatient or angry at your tardiness.

人们因为你的迟到而不耐烦或者生气。

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

你认为时间紧张的时候你更有动力，或者压力会让你动作更快。

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，你有两项以上为肯定回答，那么你在遵守时间方面可能有问题，这种问题就是“惯常迟到（chronic lateness）”。“惯常迟到”跟拖延症相关。经常迟到的人和患有拖延症的人不是在应对时间方面有问题，而是不够自律。另外，也有可能是他们对面前的任务有焦虑情绪。

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.

如果你总是迟到，在诸如医生约见、新的社交场合或者与你不喜欢的人碰面等一些你害怕面对的事情上尤其明显的话，这种迟到多是焦虑引起的。就算不可避免，也要尽量延后，这就是大脑应对焦虑情绪时的做法。

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，如果你已经习惯在任何常规工作和活动场合迟到，那就是自律问题了，还有你心里那个“顽劣的自己”，那个阻止你努力上进、不让你听从引导的自己。

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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen）

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