Planning

We can all save a lot of time and energy with just a little planning. I do not mean writing out long, elaborate lists full of details. Just give your day a bit of thought.

Say you need to go shopping for groceries. Before you run off, stop and make a mental list of the basic things you need. Also, think about what other shops are in the area. Maybe you can make a stop at the bank or post office while you're in the area. If you need a new shirt, maybe there's a department store nearby. Anything in the area that you need? Stop in before you get those groceries. You will be surprised how much time you save. It beats getting home and realizing that you have to go right back out. You also save wear and tear on your vehicle and, if traffic is heavy, you save wear and tear on your nerves.

At work, stop a minute before you leap into a job. Do you have all of your materials and data on hand. Is there any thing related to the specific job that you can take care of at the same time. I have often started doing a repair and found that while doing that, I could do a bit of preventative maintenance  at the same time.

Now, the thing about plans is you must be flexible. It is a good idea to do a bit of planning but, you have to accept the fact that situations change, sometimes in a matter of seconds. I have known folks who planned so thoroughly that when things changed, they were lost.

Still, I urge you to do a bit of planning before you start anything. You will save time, money and energy and who doesn't like that.