Time management and making the most of the time we are given in a day is one of the chief challenges of single parenting. We spread ourselves around and as the solo adult in our household; have quite a bit to tend to. One of the realities that can “eat up” valuable time in a busy day is having to wait—we wait at the doctor’s or dentist’s office, wait on line, wait in traffic. If the average person figured out how much time she spends waiting, she might get incredibly discouraged at all the wasted time. What can be done to cut down on all that waiting time?
Many of us already try to multi-task and take advantage of our waiting time by making phone calls or carrying a laptop with us to work while we wait. It would be nice, however, to cut down on the waiting time altogether. Consider making appointments and running errands during “off times.” There are times of the day when there is more traffic (rush hour) and times when the grocery store is busier, more people are at the doctor’s office, etc. Avoid doing your shopping during lunch hour or right after work–that is when the grocery store is at its busiest. I have found that Sunday mornings are an absolute breeze at the grocery store, as is the time in the later evening—any time after 7 pm and many grocery stores are virtually empty (unless you live in a large city!)
Consider adjusting your timing just a little to get you out of the “waiting times”—leaving for work just a little earlier or a little later can make a big difference in whether or not you get stuck waiting in traffic. You can experiment if you have the leeway and find a better time that makes for less waiting.
The earlier in the morning you can make your doctor’s and dentist appointments the better—it is like flights leaving the airport, there is less “back-up” if you are there first thing in the morning. This might mean taking some time off work, but many doctors and dentists have early morning appointments now to accommodate our busy lifestyles.
There are tangible things you can do to adjust your schedule to create a world where there is less time spent waiting. You may not be able to eliminate it all together, but you can free up some time in a busy day.
See Also: Ideas for Waiting
Cut Down Wait Times at the Doctor’s Office