By Lisa Martin
Being efficient with household errands may seem like a daunting task at times.
By 8 a.m., you’ve stretched, dressed, downed coffee, packed the kids off to school, and updated your Facebook status.
Around 5 p.m., you start dreaming about dinner, a hot shower, and some downtime.
By 9 p.m., you pray for a half-hour of peace before bed to crack open this month’s book club reading. Running errands? Making healthy meals from scratch? Answering emails? Maybe next weekend.
At times, brimming to-do lists sap the joy out of life. Here are a few strategies to increase your efficiency, streamline your chores, and make everyday errands a breeze.
Breaking down errands
Gretchen Rubin, author of bestseller The Happiness Project, does one errand each day — from getting a prescription filled to dropping off library books — to keep the tasks from overwhelming her.
“Doing one errand is manageable, and although it doesn’t sound like much, it adds up,” Rubin says in her book.
For multiple stops, plan your route for ninja-strike efficiency. Organizational experts recommend starting with the stop farthest away from home and working your way back. Tote a cooler in the trunk if you’re making a grocery run. Don’t forget to bring a granola bar or some other snack so you won’t blow calories and time on fast food.
Hire help through concierge or errand-running services. Many, like the Idaho-based Everyday Butler, charge as little as $30 an hour to tackle your FedEx, grocery, shoe-repair, and charitable donation runs plus a whole lot more. Associa clients also have complimentary access to Associerge, a virtual online concierge service that acts as a “personal assistant.”
Technology and gadgets
Some technology can make errands that much easier:
- GroceryGadget is one of many mobile phone apps targeted to list-making. By always having your grocery list with you, you’ll save paper, gas, and frustration.
- Make Mapquest, Google maps, or your navigation system work for you, especially on your errand marathon.
- Spend 15 minutes of your lunch break shopping the web instead of making a mad dash to the store. Need a quick birthday present? Email a gift card or make an online donation in someone’s name.
Other timesavers
A mobile carwash service can clean your wheels while you’re at the gym. While you’re at it, check out mobile pet grooming services.
Despite the Great Recession, many high-end stores have professional shoppers who don’t charge to help you shop. Forge relationships with personal shoppers at Whole Foods, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus for everything including wine selection, your working wardrobe, and great gifts.
Pick up delicious, heat-and-eat fare from places like Dream Dinner and Super Suppers. Or hire a personal chef, one who shops and then prepares several days’ worth of meals in your home. According to the American Personal & Private Chef Association, some 9,000 personal chefs work in the U.S. today, a number expected to double by 2016. Some charge as little as $20 a person per meal.
Seasonal decorating getting you down? Hire a “stager” or “interior arranger.” These decorators specialize in using your own stuff for a fresh, new look. They work magic in an afternoon.
Run Household Errands Efficiently
Being efficient with household errands may seem like a daunting task at times.
By 8 a.m., you’ve stretched, dressed, downed coffee, packed the kids off to school, and updated your Facebook status.
Around 5 p.m., you start dreaming about dinner, a hot shower, and some downtime.
By 9 p.m., you pray for a half-hour of peace before bed to crack open this month’s book club reading. Running errands? Making healthy meals from scratch? Answering emails? Maybe next weekend.
At times, brimming to-do lists sap the joy out of life. Here are a few strategies to increase your efficiency, streamline your chores, and make everyday errands a breeze.
Breaking down errands
Gretchen Rubin, author of bestseller The Happiness Project, does one errand each day — from getting a prescription filled to dropping off library books — to keep the tasks from overwhelming her.
“Doing one errand is manageable, and although it doesn’t sound like much, it adds up,” Rubin says in her book.
For multiple stops, plan your route for ninja-strike efficiency. Organizational experts recommend starting with the stop farthest away from home and working your way back. Tote a cooler in the trunk if you’re making a grocery run. Don’t forget to bring a granola bar or some other snack so you won’t blow calories and time on fast food.
Hire help through concierge or errand-running services. Many, like the Idaho-based Everyday Butler, charge as little as $30 an hour to tackle your FedEx, grocery, shoe-repair, and charitable donation runs plus a whole lot more. Associa clients also have complimentary access to Associerge, a virtual online concierge service that acts as a “personal assistant.”
Technology and gadgets
Some technology can make errands that much easier:
Other timesavers
A mobile carwash service can clean your wheels while you’re at the gym. While you’re at it, check out mobile pet grooming services.
Despite the Great Recession, many high-end stores have professional shoppers who don’t charge to help you shop. Forge relationships with personal shoppers at Whole Foods, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus for everything including wine selection, your working wardrobe, and great gifts.
Pick up delicious, heat-and-eat fare from places like Dream Dinner and Super Suppers. Or hire a personal chef, one who shops and then prepares several days’ worth of meals in your home. According to the American Personal & Private Chef Association, some 9,000 personal chefs work in the U.S. today, a number expected to double by 2016. Some charge as little as $20 a person per meal.
Seasonal decorating getting you down? Hire a “stager” or “interior arranger.” These decorators specialize in using your own stuff for a fresh, new look. They work magic in an afternoon.