Time; sometimes it seems no matter how much we have, we never have enough. For some of us, time can be more difficult to manage than money or business. Daily errands can be big culprits in time consumption. With one car and a busy family of six, I know I’ve had my days when I felt like one of those mechanical targets in a shooting gallery, going back and forth each time I was struck by the memory of something else I meant to do. Sometimes, just organizing errands can free up time in the day that we never realized existed. Follow these tips to help manage your busy day:
PLAN AHEAD
Keep a running list of errands that need to run. Get a day planner to write in your schedule. Seeing your regular activities all written out can make it easier to figure out how to fit in all those extra errands. This will save time; instead of going one place, then home, then another place, then back near the first place, you can organize your day so that you will be making as few trips as necessary, in the shortest route possible.
At some point in the morning, or the night before, take a moment to recall all of the errands you want to get done in the day. Look at where you are going, and decide if there is anything else you can do while you are there. For instance, if you are going to your hairdresser, and the beauty shop is next to the hardware store, pick up those new air filters before you go home. Even if you won’t need them for a month, you know you will need them eventually– why bother having to make a second trip? You can save yourself one errand right there. Next to your beauty shop appointment, jot down, “pick up air filters!”
KEEP STOCK OF NECESSITIES
Do you find that you frequently have to stop everything to “run out” and get something? Do you have to run out after dinner just because you ran out of dish washing detergent, or you have to leave earlier in the morning because you have to stop at the store to buy hair spray? I can’t tell you how many times my husband had to make a 3 a.m. trip for diapers with our first child, when I was still learning how to manage a busy household and family. This can be such a waste of time. Save yourself the time of making last minute trips by keeping that running list of things you need. Anticipate when you will need more of any common household items, from food to maintenance supplies. If you have the space, stock up on as many things as possible. Canned goods, diapers, baby wipes, jar food, dry goods, soaps, toilet paper, detergents, cleaning supplies, filters, batteries– having all these things on hand can save a lot of running back and forth. This, in turn, can save you money on gas, plus save money on the items if you are a savvy enough shopper to take advantage of bulk deals, sales and coupons.
Don’t wait until you run out of an item before putting it on your list. Make a note when you notice you are getting low so that you can fit it into your schedule when it is most convenient, rather than have to stop everything and “run out” for it. With perishables, you can try to stock up by freezing whatever can be frozen. But even if you can’t freeze something, you can try to anticipate when you need more and keep a constant supply coming at your convenience, rather than when you have to make an extra trip.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 1-STOP SHOPPING
Going to a mega-mart, shopping mall, or flea markets when you have a lot of errands to run. Even if you have to go a bit farther, or a bit out of your way, in the long run it can save you time. You will likely find most (or all) of your needs in one place, and this can be a huge convenience. My holiday shopping, which used to plague me throughout the month of December, now takes me one day. The time you can save from running back and forth to different locations, finding parking and walking back and forth to your car can save you enough minutes here and there to really make a difference by the end of the day.
SEEK CAR POOLING ARRANGEMENTS
Get together with a few other parents and split up the driving duties for as many activities as possible. If your daughter is in a martial arts class, find out if one of the kids in the class lives close by you. Make an offer to the parent to alternate driving duties each week. If three other kids on the block are in your son’s school, see if you can arrange with the other parents to split the drop-offs and pick-ups. If your family has one car, see if you wife can find someone in the office who is willing to drive her home. Offer weekly gas money to the person; it will still be cheaper than you making a round-trip every day, and you will have the time to do other chores, such as getting dinner started or finishing up your own work.
SHARE ERRANDS
Chances are you frequently bump into your neighbors at the grocery store, or use the same dry cleaners as your friend. Talk to your near-by neighbors and friends, and tell them that you would be willing to call them and let them know when you are going to the store (dry cleaners, post office) in case they need you to pick up or drop off anything. Ask if they would do the same for you, telling them it could save both of you the time and the trip if you work together.
DOUBLE UP
If there are going to be two or more of you in the car, try to split up the errands, rather than doing all of them together in succession. Have your husband drop you off at the grocery store to shop, while he gets the car gassed and washed nearby. Send your teen into the library to drop off those books while you run across the street to return the videos. Have your husband go in and order Chinese take-out while you pick up your kids from their dance class down the road. When the errands are done, everyone can meet up again and head home, with time to spare.
