Though I know this sounds like a silly topic to write about, grocery shopping can be a daunting task for some. For me…it’s a place of solitude and relaxation!
There are many reasons why I love my weekly trip to the grocery store, but to name a few…
1. I love food.
2. There is a Starbucks in my grocery store.
3. I use it as my “me” time.
Typically, I will try to get to the grocery store on a Sunday, when I have some extra time to truly enjoy the process. Before I go, I write down a list of all of the things I must get, so that I don’t forget anything, but my purchases certainly aren’t limited to this list. I throw on some comfortable clothes, make sure my iPod is all charged up, and hit the road.
Everyone knows that grocery store parking lots are a nightmare. Seldom do you find a spot close to the entrance, or one with enough space for you to comfortably open your car door without bumping the car next to you. When you do find that lucky spot…chances are there is a cart smack dab in the middle of it! When I am parking…I don’t look for a spot closest to the entrance necessarily. I look for a spot closest to the “cart corral”! Though I love grocery shopping…when I’m done…I want to get out of there! Parking next to or near the cart corral makes for a very quick exit after your groceries have been loaded in to the trunk because, you don’t have to walk a mile to put your cart away.
The first thing I do when I get in to the store is get my Starbucks Caramel Macchiato. Walking up and down the snack aisles make my mouth water, so having something to sip on while shopping stops me from making those impulse junk food purchases!
I then grab my cart, put my headphones on, rock out to some tunes, and go! Listening to music while I shop helps me to relax and drown out all of the other people in the store. It’s at this point, that I have my most “Zen” moments. It’s just me, Britney Spears, and my macchiato.
Ahhh…sounds like heaven doesn’t it!
While embarking on a grocery trip, I follow the same path every time I shop. I go aisle by aisle, as I check everything off on my list, while grabbing some extras along the way. I typically eat the same type of stuff, but I love bringing home something out of the ordinary every now and then.
After making it through my list…and checking it twice…it’s time to pay the bill!
I think it’s fair to say that most people look for the checkout line with the least amount of people or with no one in it at all. Me…not so much! I like to have at least one person ahead of me, and a full “belt” of food in front. Sounds strange right?
Nothing gives me more anxiety than being rushed…in any part of my life. When I’ve got an open lane and a clear belt, I feel rushed in putting my groceries up as fast as I can in order to slide my credit card through before the check out clerk is waiting on me! Yikes! Instead, I like to slowly empty my cart, with plenty of time to spare to slide my card through and have a “Good Afternoon” chat with my clerk. It just makes the process feel a lot more relaxed! After all, this is my “me” time…so what’s the rush!
I then unload the groceries in to the car, walk only a few steps to the corral for my cart…and I’m off!
I may sound a little crazy and OCD, but grocery shopping is something that has to be done often, so why not make it enjoyable!
I encourage you to give my plan a try this weekend. I’d be shocked to hear that you didn’t enjoy yourself
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