Budi rushed through Jakarta’s congested streets. The sound of motorcycle and car horns blared around him. “Today I won’t be late,” he muttered to himself, the same promise he had made yesterday, and the day before. Yet as he glanced at his watch—8:47 AM—the familiar wave of dread washed over him. His meeting started at 9:00, and his office was still a 20-minute ride away. Once again, he would be walking in late, offering apologies to his increasingly impatient colleagues.
Why Indonesian Workers Struggle with Punctuality
Budi’s story is familiar to many Indonesian professionals. Despite best intentions, some people seem perpetually unable to arrive on time. What appears as simple disrespect or poor planning often has deeper roots, some uniquely shaped by Indonesian work culture and urban environments.
The “Jam Karet” Mentality
In Indonesia, the concept of “jam karet” (rubber time) refers to the flexible attitude toward time and schedules. This cultural perspective allows deadlines and meeting times to stretch like rubber, creating an environment where being slightly late is often socially acceptable and even expected.
Jakarta’s Unpredictable Traffic
For workers in major Indonesian cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, or Bandung, traffic is not just an inconvenience—it’s a daily gamble. Most of the commuters typically spend 30 minutes to 2 hours commuting to work every single day. Even the most punctual person can be derailed by sudden gridlock, flooding during the rainy season, or unexpected road closures. After experiencing this unpredictability repeatedly, many workers develop a fatalistic attitude toward arrival times.
Public Transportation Challenges
Many Indonesian workers rely on public transportation systems that can be overcrowded and unpredictable. Whether it’s waiting for a TransJakarta bus that’s running behind schedule or navigating between multiple angkot routes, the journey to work often contains variables outside one’s control.
Climate Considerations
Indonesia’s tropical climate adds another layer of complexity. Sudden downpours during the rainy season can instantly transform a 30-minute commute into a 90-minute ordeal. Some workers develop the habit of waiting out rain in nearby shelters rather than arriving at work soaking wet.
Traditional Time Management vs. Modern Work Expectations
Many Indonesian professionals find themselves caught between traditional cultural time attitudes and the increasing demands of global business standards. International companies and startups often expect strict punctuality, creating a cultural clash for workers accustomed to more flexible timeframes.
The Morning Routine Challenge
Indonesian workers often juggle complex morning responsibilities before heading to work—from family obligations to navigating shared living spaces. In multi-generational households, bathroom schedules alone can derail the most carefully planned morning.
Social Media Distraction
The high rate of smartphone usage in Indonesia means many workers start their day checking social media and messages. What begins as a quick check of WhatsApp groups can easily consume precious morning minutes.
Understanding these factors doesn’t excuse chronic lateness, but it does highlight the unique challenges Indonesian workers face. For people like Budi, developing strategies that account for these realities—rather than simply trying harder—offers the best path to punctuality in Indonesia’s dynamic work environment.
The Psychology Behind It
The previous points outline some external reasons why someone might struggle to arrive on time. However, beyond these factors, there are also psychological reasons behind this behavior. Below is an explanation.
- Low Self-Esteem: Individuals with low self-esteem may feel anxious about social interactions, leading them to arrive late as a way to avoid confrontation or uncomfortable situations. This behavior can serve as a defense mechanism against anxiety-inducing events.
- Optimism Bias: Many chronically late individuals exhibit optimism bias, believing they can complete more tasks in a given timeframe than is realistically possible. This cognitive distortion often results in missed deadlines and increased tardiness due to overcommitting themselves.
- Attention Deficits: Those with attention-related issues, such as ADHD, may struggle with time management and focus. They often underestimate the time required for tasks, leading to delays when transitioning between activities.
- Personality Traits: Certain personality types are more prone to lateness. For example, extroverts may become engrossed in conversations, causing them to lose track of time. Similarly, laid-back individuals (Type B personalities) may not prioritize punctuality as highly as others.
- Poor Time Management Skills: A significant number of people fail to accurately estimate how long tasks will take, leading to chronic lateness. Research indicates that many underestimate task durations by nearly 40%, which contributes to their inability to arrive on time.
- Rebellion and Attention-Seeking: Some individuals may use lateness as a form of rebellion or a way to draw attention to themselves. This behavior can stem from a desire to challenge social norms or simply enjoy the spotlight that comes with making an entrance.
- Fear of Being Early: Interestingly, some people prefer being late because they fear the discomfort of arriving early. This can result in a cycle of tardiness where they aim for exact punctuality but end up being late due to their anxiety about being early.
- Sleep Disorders: Chronic lateness can also be linked to sleep issues, which affect focus and planning abilities. Individuals suffering from sleep disorders may experience fatigue that hampers their ability to manage time effectively.
Conclusion
These points demonstrate that being late is not always due to external factors. Beyond that, there are numerous psychological reasons behind it. Chronic lateness can often be linked to deeper psychological patterns, such as procrastination, perfectionism, or even subconscious resistance to authority or structure. For some, it may stem from anxiety or fear of failure, where the act of delaying becomes a coping mechanism. Others might struggle with time management due to attention-related challenges, such as ADHD.
In some cases, chronic lateness can also be a manifestation of self-sabotage, where individuals unconsciously undermine their own success or relationships. Understanding these psychological underpinnings is crucial, as it allows individuals to address the root causes rather than merely focusing on the symptom of tardiness. By exploring these internal factors, one can develop healthier habits and a more mindful approach to time, ultimately leading to personal growth and improved well-being.
Last modified: March 20, 2025
