If you or your child have executive functioning challenges, it can be tough to find the motivation (and the focus!) necessary to check simple errands off your to-do list.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to make your life a little easier.
Whether it’s running to the bank, picking up groceries, or dropping off paperwork at the doctor’s office, these foolproof tips will make running errands easier when you have executive functioning issues.
Running Errands: 10 Foolproof, Executive Functioning Friendly Tips to Make Life Easier
There are a few reasons why running errands might be overwhelming for someone with executive functioning issues. For one, it can be tough to stay organized enough to streamline your tasks. You might feel like you’re always missing a deadline or forgetting to pick something up at the store!
Not only that, but managing your time and physical space enough to get things done can be difficult, too. These tips should help you stay on top of everything that it is you need to get done – so you can spend more time doing what matters most to you.
1. Stay on Top of Your Paperwork
Make sure you’re up to date on all of your paperwork so that when the moment strikes to run your errands you have everything you need.
Keep an ongoing list of errands that need to be done. These could be your usual tasks, like going to the bank, or ones you keep forgetting – like making a vet appointment for the family cat.
Keep your reminder list with you at all times. If it’s a physical list, you may want to stash it at home in a place where the rest of the family can access it to jot their own items down, too.
There are other strategies and systems you can set up to help yourself stay organized, too. You can get paperless bills online to cut down on the number of physical objects you need to organize. Scheduling automatic payments can help keep you on track, too.
2. Be Prepared to Troubleshoot
You’re out and about and you get a flat tire – and you’re so upset that you can’t come up with a plan to deal with the situation and get the rest of your errands done.
Plan ahead for issues that might pop up. This will help you develop a more flexible mindset – something that’s hugely important for anyone, but especially someone with executive functioning issues.
You can program important numbers into your phone and have a few stress-relieving strategies (like taking deep breaths) in your back pocket for whenever you need them.
3. Have a Plan – and a Routine
Come up with a plan that you can follow each week for getting all of your necessary errands done.
Planning and prioritizing your errands – and keeping visual reminders handy – can help you stay on track. Use a digital calendar on your phone or hang a large calendar on the wall where you can map out everything you need to do. You can even build tasks into routines you already have.
For instance, if you always watch a certain show on Thursday nights, that could be your cue to log online and pay a few bills, too.
4. Map it Out
Map out your errands so that you can be efficient. Not only will you save time and avoid forgetting anything, but you will also cut down on gas (more money saved!).
If you can, coordinate your errands with your significant other, too, to make the process even more streamlined.
5. Go During Off Hours
Did you know that about 90% of people rush around to do their errands on the weekends? That leads to jam-packed stores, unending traffic, and a lot of unnecessary stress. This stress can make it much harder for you to focus – and you’ll likely find yourself feeling overwhelmed, frazzled, and even more disorganized than usual
Instead, consider running your errands during the week. Even if you work during the day, it might be worth it to head out at night (wait until you’ve put the kids to bed and have your partner watch them, if you can swing it) just to skip the crowds.
6. Do it At Home to Reduce Overwhelm
There are all kinds of errands that you actually don’t need to leave the house to do. Can you shop from home? Schedule a grocery pickup? Pay bills online?
While it might not always be more efficient or cost-effective to do things from home, it’s truly amazing how much time you can spend by doing your errands from the comfort of your own home instead of driving around the city.
7. Consolidate Errands
Don’t run out to do just one task. Not only does this waste gas and time, but it also leads to a lot of unnecessary stress and “mental clutter.”
Instead, do everything in bulk. Once you’ve dropped your kid off at school or soccer practice, grab the groceries you need, drop off the packages you’ve been meaning to send at the post office, and pick up the dry cleaning.
Pick one day of the week to run errands. If you find yourself running out of the house every day to do just one or two errands, you’re wasting time and pulling your attention away from other tasks – something that can be hugely detrimental for anyone, let alone someone who struggles with planning, attention, and focus as it is.
8. Write it Down
Write down everything that needs to be done. You can keep a physical to-do list on the wall, your calendar, or even in a planner – or you can rely on your phone.
Many people find it helpful to keep a running tally of groceries that are needed on their phone. Think about it – when do you ever leave the house without your cell phone? If you do this, then you won’t have to worry about forgetting something at the grocery store because you left your list at home.
There are other executive functioning hacks you can try to make sure you don’t miss a thing. Organize your list in the order of things you’ll find at the store – for example, if you always start by the produce section, write down the fruits and vegetables you need first. No more backtracking!
There are even apps you can use to make sure every member of the family is on board with your organizational system. For example, the OurGroceries app syncs each family member’s grocery lists across multiple devices – so anybody can access the list no matter who has time to go shopping.
9. Keep Your Gear in the Trunk or an “Errand Bag” in the Car
One of the most frustrating aspects of running errands is feeling as though you’re constantly having to leave the house for something else. If you can consolidate your errands and do them when you have a few spare moments to tackle them, you’ll be much less stressed.
The challenge is that you might find yourself with a few spare moments – but without the gear you need.
The solution? Keep everything you need in the trunk or car. You can keep a basket, some shopping bags, and even a cooler in the trunk. That way, you can keep your groceries cold if you have to run around and do a few more errands.
You can also keep an errand bag in the car. This bag might contain extra stamps and envelopes, bills that need to be paid, or even extra bags for groceries. That way, whenever you find yourself with a few moments to spare, you’ll be able to spend your time productively.
10. Set Up an Errand Center
One of the biggest challenges for people who struggle with executive functioning has to do with the physical organization of their materials. Running errands might be problematic for you because you never know where your stamps are, your dry cleaning that needs to be delivered, your library books that need to be returned…
You name it, and there’s a good chance you don’t know where it is.
Cut down on all the time you spend looking for things and designate an area of your home that’s just for errands. You can put everything here, from your grocery list to packages that need to be mailed and dry cleaning that needs to be dropped off.
A spot by the door or in the car is a good idea – that way, it will serve as a visual reminder of what needs to be done, but any spot in your home that works for you can get the job done just fine.
Reward Yourself!
Last but not least, reward yourself! It can be tough to stay motivated when you’re out and about – and to muster up the motivation you need to run those errands in the first place. You can develop self-control by giving yourself a reward.
Give yourself some incentives to help get yourself out the door – and to get your errands done as efficiently as possible. Whether it’s a bouquet of flowers or even your favorite bakery treat, knowing that there’s something waiting for you when you’re done checking these items off your list can help make the process much easier.
Running errands doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you have executive functioning issues. Hopefully, these tips will help you stay on task the entire time!
Further Reading
- Check out our free EF assessment
- Download our Real-Life Executive Functioning Workbook (coupon code LSA20 for 20% off at checkout)
- Harvard University Center on the Developing Child: Executive Function & Self-Regulation
- Amy Sippl: Executive Functioning Skills 101: The Basics Of Planning
- Sue W. Chapman et. al: 10 Strategies for Better Time Management
- Amy Sippl: Executive Functioning Skills 101: All About Organization