Derailing a tight schedule

itsabiinspired
Jul 2, 2019
3 min read

Updated: Aug 3, 2019

ree — Beautiful mountains viewed from my hotel in Kappel, Switzerland

I was heading to Kappel, Switzerland for a work-related trip and I almost missed my train! I hate nearly missing trains or flights. It's one of the most stressful things when traveling. All I thought of was that it would be a waste of money if I missed it. Gosh, that would be such a waste of money! Thank God my colleagues were able to stall the train. That is a long story that includes one of them being shouted at by one of the train personnel and having the door being shut after she jumped outside the train to negotiate. At the same time, my supervisor had ran out of the train, along the platform and downstairs to look for me. What a mess! Even though it was stressful for all of us, operation getting Abi on the train was a success. That was our team building event for the year. A+ for Teamwork guys! Go Team!

My excuse:

I am usually never late for events or trips— especially trips. If I am walking, I usually time my speed (which is swift) in the time I get to a place. Based on my walking pace I know I can reach to my destination at a certain time. But my normal pace plus huge heavy luggage and three carry-ons equals being late, which I certainly was. I may have also thought that the time on my ticket was the time when the train arrived rather than it leaving. Oops!

Lessons learnt:

Prepare for the unexpected. When scheduling your time leave room for anything crazy to happen. But most importantly note that the time on your ticket means that the train leaves at that time instead of arriving at that time— I guess everyone knew that...EXCEPT ME.

While on the train, after catching my breath and finally focusing on my window view as opposed to my almost anxiety attack, I realized something further. I nearly missed my train because I was too comfortable and confident about my timing and what I thought I knew. I was almost sure that the same time it took me to walk briskly to the train station before, without luggage, would be the same timing as me having three pieces of luggage! What was I thinking?! I then realized this has not only happened with misjudging travel time. The fact id, there have been so many different situations like this, where I have misjudged the outcome.

I used to be (meaning right before this train experience) the person who scheduled everything to a T. Made no room for mistakes, errors, or accidents. Many times it did work and some times it didn't. It's like when I had a stringent plan to study, or strict budget or the plan of how I wanted to excel in my career— Prepschool, high school, Degree, Masters, second masters? Get a job... That extreme planning can be hard to follow realistically. I would feel totally upset if it did not work out according to planned. A lot of disappointments that I've faced would have been less surprising or easier to deal with, if I had a back up plan or left room for anything else to happen. I always thought it was efficient but, hmm Let's think: is it really planning efficiently if you don't include room for mistakes?

I can imagine many parents having to learn to excel at this kind of time management; especially when they have young children. They may need to leave an hour, or so, as a buffer just in case something happens out of their control. If the unforeseen happens they can still make it in time for whatever event or activity there is.

Is there something you nearly missed because of your poor judgement? Your poor judgement of someone or a situation? Or of time like myself? It sucks doesn't it? Let this be a reminder that you need to schedule enough time in your plans, just in case something happens.

Don't miss the train! Leave room for the heavy, unpredictable weight of life.