Tips to Avoid the Rush

Grocery Shopping


Typically grocery stores have the least amount of customers early in the morning and late at night. You can also expect a faster shopping time by going during the week.  Whether you don't want to wait in long lines or you simply do not like big crowds, these are the best times to "get in and get out."  Having your coupons ready and a list will also make for efficient shopping. 


The Post Office


The Post Office is another place that will frequently have long lines and big crowds.  You can speed up your Post Office trip by having your package written on and ready to go.  The busiest time for the Post Office is druing the lunch hour and towards the end of the business day.  Post Office customers will go straight from work to take care of their mailing needs.  By buying extra postage and envelopes you will also save yourself time.  Utilize the Post Office drop boxes which are located in various locations throughout the city.   These drop boxes have different pick up times which allows you go at your convenience.  The Post Office and package centers may have pick up services directly from your home.


Dr. and Dentist Appointments


I would like to tell you there is an easy way to avoid the wait time in medical offices, the truth is this is a hit and miss category.  However there are a few things you can do to make your visit run a little smoother. 


Many facilities are offering pre-registration forms online to bring to your appointment.  This mainly applies to new patients but there may be other paperwork you can fill out before you arrive to your appointment.   Arrive early!  If your appointment is for 11:00 AM, I would arive at least 10 to 20 minutes early.  It might seem longer to you, but sometimes you will be seen earlier especially if there aren't alot of patients waiting.  Be careful about squeezing your schedule in.  Appointment schedulers try to prevent from overbooking patients for the medical staff.  Unfortunately some patients can be persistent and possess a sense of urgency to get their appointment in.  By setting your appointments a little further out and as early in the morning as possible can skip the appointment scheduling chaos.  Even if you arrive at the scheduled time, that is still enough to get the patient rotation out of order.  If you are late there is a possibility you will not be seen and have to re-schedule or you will wait a long time to be called.


Leisure Shopping


Who can resist the fun of leisure shopping for things such as clothes, jewelry, furniture and household items.  The least busiest time to graze the department stores are during the week and early in the morning.  Weekends are byfar the busiest time for stores, especially around the holiday season.  If you know there is a specific item you are looking for, don't be afraid to call ahead to see if the product is available.  Online shopping is another great way to save time and travel.


Rush Hour


I remember when I worked over 20 miles from my home and knew if I left after 4:10 PM I would spend up to an hour and a half trying to get home.  If I left anytime between 3 and 4 it would take me no longer than 30 minutes.  The least amount of stops you make before your destination, the faster you will get there.