How lockdown has affected lateness, according to poll

One quarter of those polled admitted to being ‘obsessed’ with time keeping

‘With life starting to open up and we get back to BBQs in the garden, people might start to put less pressure on timekeeping and just embrace the social moments, even if they start a little late’ (Getty Images)

The average adult starts to feel stressed if they are just seven minutes late for a social event or meeting, according to a poll.

A survey of 2,000 adults found “early is on time”, with one quarter admitting they are “obsessed” with time keeping.

Anything past eight minutes is classed as “late”, and an organised 67 per cent plan ahead to ensure they are never running behind schedule.

Many swear by being early, with some believing no amount of time is acceptable to be late.

A fifth of adults have been criticised for their time keeping habits – whether too early or too late.

However, lockdown seems to have made the nation live “slower” and some have enjoyed not having the pressure of being somewhere at a specific time.

The survey was commissioned by European bakery experts, St Pierre founder, Paul Baker said: “The research shows that the majority of adults firmly put themselves in the ‘early’ camp and are proudly never late.

“However, the past year has definitely made the nation live ‘slower’ and find joy in the smaller things like indulging in a favourite food.

“With life starting to open up and we get back to BBQs in the garden, people might start to put less pressure on timekeeping and just embrace the social moments, even if they start a little late.”

The poll also found the most used excuses for being late included blaming the traffic, a morning alarm not going off and the car not starting.

Britons typically feel anxious, annoyed and concerned if it’s looking like they’re going to be late anywhere.

Top occasions and events people stress about being late to included job interviews, medical appointments and the airport.

Meanwhile some would be concerned about running late to even meet up with an old friend.

Almost half of friendships group have a person who is especially known to be late – but very few admitted they are “that friend”.

A further 38 per cent have even sneakily told a friend that a meeting time was earlier than it was, so if they showed up late they were actually on time.

And it only takes four times of being late for people to feel upset with others, revealed the research conducted via OnePoll.

The latest respondents have ever been to an agreed meeting time was found to be 23 minutes, which left them feeling apologetic, embarrassed and stressed.

While women are more likely to feel apologetic and anxious about being late, men are more likely to laugh it off.

But the past year in and out of lockdowns has changed the general concept of time for 20 per cent of adults, while some said it’s even impacted their mealtimes.

A few said they have eaten when they felt like it rather than at set times – including a few having breakfast later than usual while others enjoyed more ‘in-between’ meals such as brunch.

When it comes to different cities up and down the UK, those in Coventry are most laid back about being late as it takes them until nine minutes and six seconds, while Aberdeen residents believe five minutes and six seconds is officially late.

SWNS