There are so many family errands to think about, from last-minute grocery runs to scheduling a visit to the doctor for regular health checks, which can be confusing, especially if you’re just starting a family. To simplify these tasks, you should learn a few smart tips to help you organize your mind, create a better routine, and streamline your daily activities. If you’re ready to breeze through your to-do list, keep reading for some expert advice.
Plan Ahead
Planning is one of the most crucial ways to make running family errands more efficient. Because some house tasks are time-sensitive, you want to map out your week to take on specific tasks at specific periods so you can also create space for running your errands. Your trusty calendar, whether a desk version or the one on your phone, will help you get more organized. Start by designating a few days for the most essential tasks like getting groceries and doing laundry, then set a date for other things like going to the movies or visiting a shoe store. This will ensure you’re not living in the chaos of last-minute tasks and forgotten household chores.
Again, leave some time for unforeseen events. Maybe a friend from the past called and invited you to lunch this Thursday, but you scheduled that day to do your laundry. With enough breathing room in your planner, you can move your essential task to another more convenient date and make time for your friend. It’s that simple!
Of course, you also want to think about logistics. Combine a few tasks in one day to save on resources. For example, you can go to the supermarket in the morning, pick up your dry cleaning before lunch, go to the gym in the afternoon, and get home before 9. This helps you save on fuel when driving a car while freeing up your time for another day. Always maximize your time to ensure you can spend most of it with your family.
Delegate Tasks
Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say. If you want to stay on top of family errands, delegate tasks to your family members to cover more ground in a shorter period. Remember that you don’t have to do everything by yourself. Your partner and older kids should be capable of doing small tasks like running to the store or cleaning the living room. This lightens the pressure on you and teaches your family the importance of helping around the house.
Many people don’t want to let go of control. If you have that mentality that no one can do a better job at these things than you, it’s time to let it go and loosen the reigns a bit. Let your family do some of the work, even if they don’t do it well initially. By doing it a few times and learning from their mistakes, they can do it just like you would, or even better! They might even surprise you if they do well on their first try.
Of course, some professionals can help you. Consider passing on some of these errands to them, especially those that require specialized skills or equipment. For example, electrical work should only be done by electricians to ensure your home is always functional and safe from electrical fires. You can even hire other people to do things for you. Consider paying your teenage neighbor to babysit your children for one night so you can get some time off.
Use Technology
In this modern world, technology is created to assist in various tasks, including family errands. We’re in the digital age, so there’s no reason to resist the convenience of modern devices to help out around the house. Start with simple mobile apps to do some of your job. There are expense-tracking apps to help you do your finances and budget your money for the family. You can also use a grocery delivery app to do your store runs and bring the items directly to your doorstep. You can even use a scheduling app to book an appointment for that IV therapy session you’ve been dying to try.
You also have GPS technology to help you when you’re out of the house. Use Google Maps to find the fastest route to the nearest gas station or avoid traffic on a road trip. These apps usually have real-time updates, so you can easily detect roadblocks and find alternative routes. GPS is a lifesaver, especially when you’re pressed for time.
Smart home technologies also make life much easier. You can invest in a smart lighting system that automatically turns on and off depending on your schedule, garage doors that conveniently open when you arrive home, and even robotic vacuums to clean the house while you’re gone. Technology is always advancing, so there will always be something to help you stay on top of your errands, no matter how busy you are.
Schedule Regular Errand Days
As mentioned, you want to plan ahead for the week to avoid unplanned tasks. But it’s always wise to schedule regular days, specifically for family errands, and stick to this routine to add structure to your family. Maybe you can designate Mondays for groceries, Saturday mornings for gardening, and Sundays for church. This way, you know what to prioritize and can easily fit unforeseen tasks on your days off, from that random garden hardscaping service to emergency trips to the dentist.
Schedules can quickly become boring, so make sure you also set a date for fun events. Find a day when everyone in your family is free and book a trip to the mountains in the nearby state. You don’t have to sacrifice family time for errands if you plan out your week and finish all your tasks before the end of the week.
However, life can derail your schedule entirely. When this happens, always be flexible and find time to reschedule your errands. There’s also something wonderful about mixing things up a bit now and then. If you’re tired of your routine, try to be spontaneous and do something new, like going to the next town for your shopping tasks instead of your regular mall. So, always plan your schedule, but practice flexibility to ensure success.
Optimize Your Route
When running family errands, you must get from one place to another in record time to finish all your tasks within a day. But this can be hard when you have a long list of things to do and many places to visit to accomplish them. To ensure you have enough time to buy groceries at the supermarket, get your nails done in the salon, and pick up bed liners for your truck at your local hardware store, try your best to optimize your routes. This can speed things up and free up your time for other things at home.
To plan a strategic route, use your trusty GPS. Set your destinations on the app, and you’ll get various route recommendations on how quickly you can get to each one. Look at the distance and traffic congestion before choosing one for your travel. Consider driving to the farthest location for your errands and hitting up other locations while finishing your tasks as you go back. This also helps you save on gas by making fewer trips.
Make sure you also think about timing. Learn about peak traffic and store hours in your area to avoid lines of cars and people while doing your runs. You also want to find shortcuts if you must do your tasks during these peak hours. Every bit of efficiency can help you finish your tasks more quickly and give you more time to spend with your loved ones.
Pack Essentials
Some family errands require bringing a few items with you to accomplish them more easily. For example, when shopping for your weekly essentials, always bring your shopping list to avoid roaming the store aisles and staring at random items, wondering if you still have them at home. You also want to bring your receipts when picking up some things like dry cleaning or materials you bought online for kitchen renovations.
When running errands with children, you should also pack things they might need. This will be your survival kit when they start acting up with tantrums or allergies. Always have tissues, snacks, a phone charger, a bottle of water, and a spare change of clothes for your kiddos. It will save you from many headaches while frantically doing your household chores outside. You might also want to pack some things for your comfort. Bring a sweater if you easily get cold, your phone when you need to wait in line, and some comfy shoes if you run around in heels.
Don’t forget about your car. It can break down unexpectedly, leaving you in despair if you have deadlines for other tasks. Always have a spare tire in the vehicle, jumper cables if your car won’t start, a hazard triangle if you’re stuck in the middle of the road, and a first aid kit for injuries. Having the contact details for a local roadside service is also wise to save you when you’re in a pickle. If you have all these things, you can confidently finish your errands ahead of time.
Set Realistic Expectations
It’s never easy running family errands, especially when you have a relatively big family. Not everything will go according to plan, so always set realistic expectations when planning your runs. This means no trying to conquer the world in a day. You can try to do three or four tasks in one afternoon, but don’t expect to finish your entire to-do list within a few hours. There’s always tomorrow and the day after that to do your errands without feeling like you’re running out of time.
Now, you can still try to do as many things as you can in one fell swoop, but cut yourself some slack if you fail to do it. Sometimes, things happen, and you have to roll with it. Maybe your AC contractor arrived late to fix your air conditioner, or you had to return home because you forgot your wallet. Don’t beat yourself up because of it. Again, flexibility is key to helping you adapt to whatever life throws your way.
You should also pat yourself on the back at the end of the day. It’s not easy being the main runner in your family for those essential tasks, so celebrate these small victories every time. If you still have some tasks for tomorrow, take a deep breath and prepare yourself for another day of errands. Progress is progress, and every item you checked off your list is a win.
Reward Participation
When enlisting your family’s help, ensure you reward them for their participation. This is not just a thank you for their help; it also incentivizes them to encourage future participation to lighten your load. Ensure you offer the right reward according to the person and the task accomplished. For example, if your eldest son bought groceries by himself, you can reward him with anything, from a delicious ice cream cone to a cold plunge at your local waterpark.
You don’t have to break the bank when giving out these rewards. Just ensure the person who helped you will enjoy your thank you gift, even if it didn’t cost you anything. For example, you can reward your child for washing the dishes by playing their favorite songs in the car on the next drive. Always be creative with these things to encourage them to help you with family errands in the future.
Practice Patience
Finally, you should always be patient when running family errands. Waiting in line at your local DMV, waiting in traffic on the highway, waiting for your kids to finish dressing themselves, waiting for your contractor for roof repairs—it can be annoying to keep waiting to finish your tasks. But not everything is under your control, so some patience can go a long way.
Now, you don’t have to settle for inefficiencies or accept delays without a fight. You can ask people to do their thing faster or make some follow-ups to speed things up. But if nothing is going your way, you should always take a deep breath and let it go. For example, if your roofer is late for that emergency roof repair you called for last night, take the delay as the time to relax or do other things. You can sometimes push back other things to deal with delays. You can even bond with your kids for the time being, letting you create some good memories. With a bit of patience, you can accomplish tasks without ever blowing up with rage.
Running family errands requires strategic planning, flexibility, and patience. If you want to do all your chores as quickly as possible, create a schedule, delegate tasks, and set realistic expectations. Even when life throws you a curveball, you’ll be ready to tackle all your tasks and have time to spare for family bonding at the end of the day.
