How to Cultivate Punctuality
PUNCTUALITY, like many other qualities, is a habit, and, as such, youth is the best time to develop it. It depends also much on the mental attitude. A mind, sluggish, inactive, and lazy, as naturally falls into habits of tardiness, as one alert, quick, and resourceful will tend in the other direction. One wishing to overcome procrastination should first have the mind in the right condition, and then with a strong determination and faith in God, go at the task of making every minute count. Keep the mind on the work, and do nothing that will hinder the accomplishment of the allotted task. Take one thing and practise doing it in a certain length of time. Do not try to do too many things at once. Don't dally, and yet avoid rough haste, learn to “make haste slowly,” or to do your work carefully, fully, systematically, and without wasting time in unnecessary stops. Application is a power much needed in scholars to-day, and should be shown in the example set by the teacher. A student is one who can so apply his mind to study as to be undisturbed by one coming into the room, by ordinary conversation, or by other sounds. A mind thus trained will get lessons in the allotted time, and be ready on time for the recitation. A good way for the teacher is to make a program for the whole day, then give to each task a special time, and to perform it within that time. Save time by doing away with every unnecessary act. Faith in God, prayer, and a strong will are most needful.—Selected.