Death, divorce, and loss of a job have long held the titles of life’s toughest experiences. But what about the everyday, mundane things that throw us into a tizzy? Like grocery shopping…why is grocery shopping so hard?
One weekend I put off the shopping until Sunday afternoon, when I finally went without a list because I could never make myself put one together but knew I needed food for the week. (Hint: this didn’t end well)
Another time I had my list and once I got to the store, I just sat there in the car, unable to open the door and get out. What makes grocery shopping a chore instead of a pleasure?
Grocery shopping is hard because our senses get overloaded
Ever really looked at how much sensory stimulation bombards you in the store? Lots of people in long checkout lines, lots of colors, lots of words, lots of sounds, obstacles in the aisles, and even food smells.
Solutions
• Consider going at an odd time like early in the morning or later at night to avoid crowds and long lines.
• Control part of your environment by using your favorite music on your earpods.
• Learn where your favorite products are so you can get in and get out quickly.
• Order online.
Grocery shopping is hard because of decision fatigue
SO MANY CHOICES…(yes I put that in all caps!) We only have the capacity for a limited number of decisions each day. Endless options on grocery shelves use more than we have!
Add to that the sheer need for shopping every week or two weeks or month (for as long as you plan to eat), and decision fatigue will steal your joy for sure.
Solutions
• Decide BEFORE you go what you’ll get (shopping list).
• Know what brands or flavors you like so you don’t have to choose “on the fly.”
• Make reusable menu plans so you just print out the shopping list and go.
• Again, order online.
Grocery shopping is hard because it taps into key fears
Don’t believe me? Well, how about this…ever feel like you failed when you get home and find you forgot something? Or spent more than you planned? Or didn’t make the healthiest choices?
Have you ever failed to consider where to put what you purchased? Maybe you share food space (cabinets/fridge/freezer) with roommates, and there’s just no space left. Or you end up throwing away food you forgot because you couldn’t see it in the fridge?
Fear of failure and lack of control are BIG drivers for anxiety.
Solutions
• Other foods can sometimes be subbed for what you forgot.
• Go with a list and stick to it…don’t buy extra.
• Utilize sales where you can. (If you’re in Middle TN, Tampa Bay area or Southern California, I’ve done some of the work for you here…updated weekly on Wednesday)
• Choose healthy BEFORE you go.
• Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry!
• If you have roommates, take a peek in the fridge/freezer and cabinets before you shop. You may need to agree how much space each person can use. (If space is a big problem, you may simply need to make smaller shopping trips.)
Final nuggets I use to tame this beast
• You are in control of your list. Savor that!
• Don’t come home thinking you’ll cook after shopping. Shopping is hard enough…cut yourself some slack with leftovers that night. (Now if you don’t like leftovers, that’s another issue!)
• If you make it in and out of the store and no one dies, that’s a WIN!!! Celebrate it!
• Make it fun and get it done! (thanks for the wisdom, @socialtribers!)
Stop feeling bad about all of the above. Take it one step at a time, try different things until you find what works. Cooking for yourself can be so enjoyable and rewarding if you overcome the anxiety.
Let me know more about what makes grocery shopping hard for you in the comments below!
Check out other resources I found on this subject! Really interesting reading…
