7.3.7 self-QUIZ: Are You an M-Time or a P-Time Person?

Are You an M-Time or a P-Time Person?

Read the questions below and choose the answer that most closely reflects your view of time. When you’re done, review your answers and see what they suggest about your personal time orientation: Are you an M-time person or a P-time person?

1. Do you have a personal planner or smartphone in which you carefully keep track of your daily schedule and appointments?
(a) Of course! How could I survive without one?
(b) What exactly do I need to plan?

2. Do you often check the time during the day to see if you’re “on schedule”?
(a) All the time. I also make sure that my watch is synchronized with my cell phone, and I program my cell to issue alarm reminders for key appointments.
(b) Never. I don’t even own a watch.

3. Do you get stressed out about not having enough time to do the things you’re supposed to?
(a) Not having enough time to do what I’m supposed to do is the number-one source of stress in my life.
(b) What exactly are “the things we’re supposed to do,” other than share life with those we love and be happy?
4. Your best friend calls you at work, says that she has been dumped by her romantic partner, and badly needs to talk with you. You
(a) check your schedule to see if there’s an opening at some point later in the day.
(b) arrange to leave work to go comfort your friend.

5. You have to renew your driver’s license because it expires tomorrow. You use your lunch hour to do so, but there are only two people working the counter at the registry of motor vehicles, and the line is long. You
(a) check your watch and feel your stress increase as the hour passes and you’re still not at the head of the line. Finally, you cut to the front and ask, “Is there any way I can go next? I’ve been waiting for an hour!”
(b) take the opportunity to chat with other people who are waiting, making new acquaintances.




Note: Examples in this Self-Quiz were gathered by the author from undergraduate volunteers.