How long would it take for you to finish a shopping trip? Let us try two ways to arrive at an estimate.
First, close your eyes and come up with a number – which is what most people do.
Second, list out the different steps involved…
- Preparing a shopping list
- Walking / driving to the supermarket x 2
- Collecting the items from the shelf
- Queue up and check-out
- Unpacking and stowing the items in your cupboard and the refrigerator
… and then provide estimates for each of these items. Add them up, and include a 10% buffer.
I am willing to bet a lot of money that the second estimate is far more accurate than the first one.
Estimate in smaller pieces. Sure, it might take you a couple of minutes more than to pull a number out of the hat. But it is sure to help you plan better, mitigate stress and make promises that you can keep.
Observations 