Sweetie,
Lots of good suggestions listed in posts...you do so much in your life, I am amazed that you have any energy left at the end of the workweek!!

I use my phone alarm to remind me when I need to do something, take meds, etc. I usually set it so it gives me time ahead of when something actually needs to be done.

When I used to open the restaurant at 6 am before I had to quit, I set my coffeemaker the night before, laid out my plates, etc, towel, washcloth, toothbrush, everything I needed to get going in the morning. I would make sure I was out of the house and at work at least 5 minutes before I needed to be.

See how much you can get set up the night before...and also see how you might be able to rearrange your schedule so you don't have to work early the next morning after you've closed. That's rough...

Hugs to you hon

Lots of good suggestions Wiz but i'm still wondering what the root of the problem is. What Tricia said really struck a chord with me.

Before the MS I was always chronically early for things. Especially work. Now I find myself late for just about everything and it drives me crazy because I feel like I've given myself plenty of time to get out the door.

I think when you find the real cause of the problem you'll be able to figure out what to do .

But it would stike me as odd that there are cognitive issues that only manifest as tardiness. She wrote her performance is good once there and it is a mentally stimulating line of work that requires organization throughout the day.

I used to be late for work simply because I HATED that place! i would sit in my car and cry before going in all composed, and not showing any cracks in my armor. I would do anything rather than go there. Scrub toilets, feel sick, smack on the snooze alarm, stop and help stranded kittens, or motorists I just couldnt stand where I was going to.

Then, I had a few of those lectures from the supervisor after being locked out and I realized it didnt matter if I "wanted" to go there or not. I had committed to doing that job, and without it I was in a world of hurt. It wasnt my job that needed to change (oh God how I wanted it to change) it was my attitude about my job that needed to change. I needed to find reasons to want to be there. Even one was a start. A co worker who makes you laugh. A client who you love helping. A discount on merchandise, getting your bills paid, the hours???there must be something that you can latch onto.

Once I changed me and changed my routine to make it easier to get there on time or before time I found it less dreary and less emotional. I no longer felt punished, but rewarded to go there each day.

I am now one of those early folks that is ready, willing and able as the rest straggle in the door still shuffling thru what their plan for the day is. Im with Barb on this one. I do hope you can find your trigger and jump over it.

Thanks so much for posting this story....I have been having some tough issues at work lately. I got two new supervisors that are pretty awful. I really needed to read this and I'm going to try and find some things to "latch on to" and change my attitude. Just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration and for sharing!

hi wiz,

lots of great comments for sure.
if you're late a minute i'd get up 10" early.

plan everything you can the nite before. make lunch if you take it.
lay your clothes out.
shower the nite before. anything that takes time in the am do the nite before if you can.

are you getting enuf sleep? good, restorative sleep?
are any MS sx's flaring up to slow you down?

good luck.

You say you're always at least one minute late. I wonder how late you usually are--10 minutes, 30 minutes?

If your employer is at all flexible, you might be able to cut a deal where you make up for your missed time by taking a shorter lunch break or by staying later than the usual stopping time.

One of my first jobs had a rigid set-up: you came to work at 8:30, you got two 15-minute breaks during the day plus a half hour for lunch, and you quit at 5.

I arranged to do without the 15-minute breaks so I could leave work at 4:30 instead of 5.

I realize that many employers have good reasons for not being so flexible though.

We were flexible but they changed the rules recently. I'm never more than 3 minutes late.

Part of my problem is that I assume I can do everything in the shortest time possible. It's like a have a competition against the clock, even calculating the stop lights, length of time for shower, etc... I take meds at night that make it hard to get going in the morning and I need all of them.

A big part of it is the odd hours that always change. There is always a split shift one day a week that starts early in the morning. And I might work late to close the night before. On top of it, I'm working on my MBA with online school.

I'm doing better since I confided with all of you. I haven't been late once since. I need to focus more on this because I know they don't want to lose me and they would hate having to report me for excessive lateness.

You all helped me so much and I'm thankful I can turn to you because you all understand like no one else can. You are all precious to me.