SAVE TIME: THE ABC'S OF RUNNING ERRANDS - WITH LESS STRESS!

Kim Wolinski, MSW
"Dr. DeClutter" www.DrDeClutter.com

Getting and staying organized can mean running errands.
There are ways to do this more efficiently and with less stress! Yea!

A. Prepare and Preplan the Two Most Important Items and Organizing Systems
1. Creating an Errand Station in your home. Maybe by the back door, in a closet area or mud room. A place where you can put drycleaning, items for repair, books for the library, notes on a cork board, etc. A "forget-me-not" space!
2. Create a running list of things, your "Errand To Do" List so that as you think of things you jot them down and don't forget! (My mom is the Queen of this list! She taught me well!)

Here are great time savers using your above two systems.

1. Returns: When you buy items that "might" need to be returned, make sure that you keep the receipts and all information together. Check for due dates and past due dates so that you don't create chaos and stress by not being able to return the item.
2. Dry cleaning items: Give them their own "home" and "bag or container" where they all are collected to be taken in fell swoop.
3. Mail: Have all of your outgoing mail ready, stamped and sealed, and/or have the information ready in a stack or put in a file folder with notes as to what each may still need, like copy of a form before sealing and mailing.
4. Make sure to check your "Errand To Do" list as see if there are greeting cards and such that need to be purchased and mailed too while you're at the Post Office.

B. The How To's After Prepared and Preplanned. On the Road Again!
1. Set aside a day and time to take back "returns" to stores; items for repair; pickup and drop-off film/pictures, dry cleaning, kids!
2 If not a day to do this, make it part of your trip to the grocery store or an appointment, even a business appointment, in order not to back track later.
3. Plan your route! There is a pattern to everything. Create the pattern to your errand list so that you don't zig-zag around town and lose time, energy and patience. It's not fun hearing yourself say, "Oh, forget it, I'll just do this later!" Planning your route also means being aware of times that stores, shops, offices and Post Office services are open. (Don't you hate being all prepared and the store is closed?)

C. Your Car the Tactical Center!
1. Make sure to have everything you need in your car for your Errand Trip. Maps, cell phone, all of your "To Do" List items and List, water, energy bar, coupons for eating lunch! and anything you might need for childcare if you have one along.

3 BONUS TIPS!
1. Here's some insider info to help you plan around the "rush hour errand time" of others! According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the worst time to run an errand to the post office or drugstore... is Friday at lunchtime. The most "daily trips" are made on Friday. The fewest daily trips are made on Sunday. More daily trips are taken between noon and 1 p.m. than between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m

2. Remember that "Errand To Do" List? DON'T leave it in your hand after viewing items, you can lose it so easily by just sitting it down to look at something! (I've found them sitting on shelves in stores while on my errand trips!) Create a routine of putting it in your pocket and always know where it is. And, have a pen handy to scratch off the items you've finished... ohhhh, that feels so good doesn't it?!!

3. TIPS For Family and Household Sanity -- show everyone else in your family/household that needs to add to the To Do List where it is and how it works so that there aren't those last minute arguements that sound like, "Why didn't you tell me before we left the store?" It's a good way not to become a martyr and to enjoy yourself and your family more. Another bonus... you're also teaching lifeskills in organizing to others... it's a good thing!

Bottom-line? Plan ahead. Create a system. Stay calm. Have fun!

Life's to short not to live it... fully!

©2004 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter”Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert

Need help getting your space (house, office, barn, backyard – thoughts, mind, time, schedule, priorities, or life) decluttered and re- organized? My new video “BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, AND OTHER ORGANIZING TIPS AND TOOLS FROM DR. DECLUTTER” is a great help. You can find out more or order BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN and other products at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/kims_store.html

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