When to leave for a meeting
Arriving late to a meeting sets the wrong tone, but leaving too early wastes productive time. Knowing exactly when to leave requires factoring in distance, traffic or transit conditions, parking, and building navigation. Most people guess, and they guess wrong about half the time. A calculated departure time accounts for real conditions so you arrive with a few minutes to spare, not stressed and not idle.
Steps
1. Estimate travel time with a buffer
Look up the route using a map app or service. Add 10 to 15 minutes for parking, walking from the car or transit stop, and finding the room. For meetings in unfamiliar buildings, add an extra five minutes. A life assistant can calculate this if you provide your starting location and the meeting address.
2. Factor in time of day and conditions
Rush hour, school zones, and weather all affect travel. A departure time that works at 10am may not work at 5pm. Check conditions for the specific time you will be traveling. A life assistant with weather data can flag rain or snow that might add delays.
3. Set a leave-now reminder
Once you know when to leave, set a reminder for that exact time. Label it with the destination and meeting purpose so you know what you are heading to. This is more useful than a generic ‘15 minutes before meeting’ alert.
Why use a life assistant for this?
A life assistant calculates when to leave based on your location, the meeting address, and current conditions. You get a specific departure time with a reminder, so you stop guessing and start arriving on time.
Frequently asked questions
How much buffer should I add to travel time?
10 to 15 minutes covers most situations. For very important meetings (interviews, client pitches), add 20 minutes. Better to arrive early and review your notes in the lobby than to arrive flustered.
What about virtual meetings, do I still need a departure time?
Not a physical departure, but a ‘wrap up what you are doing’ time helps. Set a reminder 5 minutes before to close your current work, open the meeting link, and pull up any relevant documents.
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