Apparently, you have a distinct 'time personality' and it explains... a lot.

I have a friend who arrives early to everything. If brunch is at 10, she's outside the café "just in case" at 9:42am — while I'm still in my towel, frantically screaming at my wardrobe and trying to locate one matching sock.

For years, I assumed this was just a personality clash. That she was just hyper-organised and I was just… chaotic. But a recent article has resurfaced an old theory that makes both of our approaches to appointments and deadlines make sense: time personalities. 

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Coined by anthropologist Edward T. Hall in the 1950s, the idea is simple. Most people fall into one of two categories when it comes to time management — Monochronic or Polychronic. Consider these fancy academic terms for what is essentially The Chronically Punctual versus The Chronically Panicked. 

Monochronics see time as structured and linear — one task at a time, ideally colour-coded and pre-approved. Polychronics, on the other hand, treat time as flexible, fluid and entirely vibe-based.

Think of it like being an introvert or extrovert: it's not a strict rule, but a lens that shapes how you move through the world — from how you manage your inbox to how personally you take a rescheduled dinner.

The Monochronics: calendar queens and crisis managers.

Monochronic people are the spreadsheet girlies. The "let's circle back at 4pm" crew. They treat time like a series of blocks: one task, then another, then a scheduled snack. Multitasking? Inefficient. Interruptions? Offensive. Lateness? A personal betrayal.

They're reliable, organised, and great in a crisis — but don't expect them to cope well with last-minute changes or a casual "let's just see how we feel".

The Polychronics: multitasking and mildly late.

Polychronic people live in a swirling soup of overlapping plans and good intentions. They're on a Zoom call, stirring risotto, texting three people and remembering a childhood betrayal — all before 10am. They don't just tolerate interruptions; they collect them like Pokémon.

They're adaptable and emotionally tuned in, but to a Monochronic, they can come across as chaotic, distracted, or 17 minutes late to every single thing.

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Can you be both?

Different situations may bring out different time personalities.

I used to think I was Monochronic. I love a list. I get stressed when things don't go to plan, even if there was no actual plan. And I feel a deep moral obligation to arrive on time — or at the very least, to text you that I'm running late while sprinting down the street (and possibly stopping to grab a coffee).

But then I looked around and realised I'm also double-booked four-nights a week, respond to emails at midnight and have sent four texts and had three unhinged side conversations while trying to write this piece. Once, I tried to host dinner, clean the house and reorganise my trauma all in the same afternoon. 

So maybe, I'm a hybrid. A little bit mono. A little bit poly. And a lot tired. 

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How to make your time personality work for you.

Once you know your time type, you can stop trying to contort yourself into someone else's structure and start planning your life in a way that actually works. 

If you're Monochronic, embrace your planning powers, but try to build in wiggle room for life's inevitable chaos. And maybe stop assuming people are evil just because they're late. 

If you're Polychronic, protect your peace by creating small anchors — like set check-in points or realistic buffer zones — so you don't overcommit, burn out or forget your best friend's birthday brunch. Again. 

It's not about changing who you are — it's about setting up your week, your workload and your relationships in a way that doesn't constantly stress you out. 

Understanding your time personality — and the time personality of the people around you —  won't suddenly make you more punctual or less stressed, but it will help you stop taking things so damn personally. 

Your friend who's always late? She's not flaky. She just got caught in a conversation with her Uber driver about their divorce. Your colleague who needs to "lock it in" a month ahead? Not a control freak. Just Monochronic and allergic to spontaneity. 

So next time you're mid-spiral because someone's "five minutes away" (read: still in the shower), take a breath. You're not being disrespected, they're just existing on a totally different time frequency. 

And honestly? You can still love them. Just maybe lie about the start time. 

Feature image: Getty.