| Many of us are so busy these days that it's hard to | | | | fewer shoppers. |
| find time to do errands or complete our to-do list. | | | | 5. Use proximity. Along with grouping errands |
| There's no need to feel overwhelmed however. | | | | together, try to shop at stores and service providers |
| Getting your tasks done is a matter of planning and | | | | that are in close proximity to your home, work, or |
| organizing your list and daily schedule in an efficient | | | | en-route between home and work. |
| manner. Learn how to manage your to-do list and get | | | | 6. Schedule Back-to-back appointments to eliminate |
| errands done quickly by using the 8 time-saving tips | | | | additional trips. When you have appointments and |
| listed in this article. | | | | errands that are at several different locations, |
| 1. Keep a running list of things you need to buy such | | | | schedule them so you can go from one to the next |
| as groceries and household supplies. By adding | | | | with a minimum of time and travel. |
| errands as you go, you won't have to add much to | | | | 7. Early appointments. Try to schedule appointments |
| the list by the time you're ready to go shopping. | | | | early in the morning. This is especially a good idea for |
| 2. Take your errand or to-do list with you wherever | | | | doctor and dentist appointments, hair and nail |
| you go. When you have your list with you, you may | | | | appointments, etc., as these are the kind of |
| find a little time to fit in something scheduled for later | | | | appointments where you can be delayed by a patient |
| in the day or week. | | | | or customer that is ahead of you. By getting tasks |
| 3. Group errands together so you can get several | | | | done early, you will still have the rest of the day left |
| things done in one trip. You'll save you a lot of time if | | | | to do other things. |
| you can do your shopping at a central location such | | | | 8. Get Your Family to help with errands. If you have |
| as a shopping or business center that has all (or | | | | a long list of things on your list, get your family |
| most) of the stores and service providers | | | | members to help out. Divide up the tasks among the |
| conveniently located in one place. | | | | family members, and make it their responsibility to |
| 4. Do errands when traffic is light. Whenever possible, | | | | get them done by a certain time. For instance, if you |
| try to do your errands when traffic is light and the | | | | have 8 things on your list and there are 4 people in |
| lines are short. Best times are usually between the | | | | your family, dividing 8 by 4 (8/4) gives each person |
| hours of 9 AM and 3 PM on weekdays, because this | | | | only two errands that they have to do. This takes |
| is when most people are at work or in school. Other | | | | some of the load off of your shoulders, and also |
| good times to do errands are generally evenings and | | | | gives each family member ownership and satisfaction |
| all day Sunday, because of generally lighter traffic and | | | | of contributing to the family. |