Why is Grocery Shopping so Exhausting?

Grocery Shopping can be such a tiring and exhausting experience. Whether you are taking kids with you or going by yourself, the actual act of going to the store and picking out food products to last for the next week can really wear you out.

You may think you are the only one that experiences this, but in reality, many people of all ages get truly tried from grocery shopping. This fatigue can make your mental and physical health worse. The whole experience is not really set up to be enjoyable. Let’s explore the ways that grocery shopping is made more difficult and some easy changes you can make to have a better shopping trip.

What makes shopping so exhausting?

There are 4 main ways that grocery shopping and really any shopping can be overwhelming and exhausting.

1. Crowds– More and more people are having anxiety of crowds. These crowds can put our emotions on edge and make the whole chore of grocery shopping worse. Check out “When you Grocery Shop Matters!” to learn more about what days and times are best to go to the supermarket to avoid crowds. Being surrounded by other shoppers that are talking or blocking aisles can be so frustrating, so finding times that are slower with less people can help. This will also mean less waiting in line to check out too!
2. Decision Overload – There are so many choices now for every product that you buy at the grocery store. Most stores carry an average of 4 different brands, and then they also offer usually 3 sizes as well. For instance, if you are buying Instant Mashed Potatoes you will have Idahoan brand, Betty Crocker brand, Hungry Jack brand, and the generic store brand. Each brand offers a pouch, a small box, and a large box. For that one item on your list, you now have to narrow down 12 different options to find the one that will work for you. If you have 40 items on your list, you now have to make 40 different decisions and look over 480 products. This will really become difficult if you are already anxious from being in a crowd, and now have to make decisions over and over again. This is also the reason, why a lot of people shop on autopilot. They buy the same size and brand over and over again regardless of price just because it is easier. If you are trying to also save money, it takes time to work out which item is the best value.
3. Sensory Overload– When you walk into a grocery store, the first thing you notice is that the lights are very bright. As you walk around you are literally being stimulated in every way from colors, to displays, to sales signs. Grocery stores want to tempt you into trying some new flavor or new product, so they want draw to draw your attention away from getting just the groceries you came to get. They are trying to spark your interest and usually use bright shiny colors and large signs to do it. Imagine trying to walk down an aisle and having to see hundreds of commercials start playing, well that is basically what the grocery store is trying to accomplish. Food companies pay lots of money to try to get your attention while you are inside the store.
4. Extreme Temperature changes – Grocery stores have multiple sections that require certain temperatures in order to keep the food stored correctly. This is the produce section, the deli, the meat counter, the dairy section, and then the frozen food area. These areas typically are located on the outside edges of the grocery shopping area, and because of this they make the whole store colder. In order to keep refrigerated foods at the ideal temperature, the systems have to accommodate frequent doors opening and multiple people coming and going. Unfortunately, no one will want to shop in a grocery store that doesn’t display its food at the correct and cold temperature.

Each of these 4 pain points are bad enough all on their own, but when you force all 4 of them together, they can make for a very uncomfortable shopping experience.

8 Tips to make grocery shopping easier

Now that we know the four ways that make grocery shopping exhausting, we can work on making the experience more tolerable. Here are some easy ways to improve your next shopping trip.

1. Detailed Grocery Lists– next time you make your grocery list, try adding more information to your items. For instance, instead of putting down “bell peppers” try writing “3 green bell peppers.” This little extra step will help solve some last-minute decision making because you will know exactly how much you need and exactly what kind to get. I typically use the sales flyers to plan out my shopping trip, so I will add key information like the price or flavor to items that I plan on getting. So instead of writing “yogurt” on my list, I will change it to “32oz /16 count Strawberry Yogurt Tubes $3.99.” Now when I go to the dairy section and see all these yogurts and different flavors, I will just get the one I plan on getting instead of going on a long search to figure out what I want.
2. Sections – While we are working on improving our grocery list, you may want to try to divide your list into different sections. I know that I always go to the produce section first, so at the top of my list I will put all my produce items like bananas, lettuce, and tomatoes. Then the next section is the deli section, and then comes the bread and crackers and so on. By making my grocery list this way, I save myself from getting to the end of the store and realizing that I forgot something that I already passed. Every time I have to walk back through the grocery store, I am more likely to grab that bag of chips or cookies that are on display. This not only helps me map out my shopping trip, but it also helps me stick to my list and budget.
3. Alternates– Unfortunately due to stock shortages and empty shelves, there are times that I go grocery shopping and the item that I need is not available. This can start a tailspin where I start to rethink my whole meal plan for the week. This can lead to me trying to replace items and possibly go over my budget. Now when I make my grocery list, I will list a few alternatives in case they don’t have what I need. For instance, if I need fresh mushrooms and they don’t look good or they are out of stock, I will look at my premade list of substitutes. This could be canned mushroom slices or jarred mushrooms. Or I may put a star next to it, to let myself know that this is not an essential item, and I can do without it. Preparing my options ahead of time, takes a lot of stress out of shopping and staying on budget.
4. Timing– If you go grocery shopping right after work when you are already tired and probably hungry, it is a lot easier to just grab your items and get out as fast as you can. This can be a grocery budget killer and you are more likely to forget needed items. Nothing is worse than getting home and realizing you forgot to buy milk. Instead, try picking a time that you can go grocery shopping when you are not pressed for time. As a bonus, see if you can go by yourself to get groceries. I know that every time I take my kids and my husband to the grocery store to pick up a few items we end up with lots of items that were not on my list. I also noticed it can take upwards of 3 times as long to shop when I have a kid or my whole family with me. So now I choose to pick a time when I can go by myself, and I almost always stick to my list and spend a lot less money!
5. Bring a jacket or sweater– I am one of those people that once I get cold, it seems to take forever to warm up. I have actually been in pain from being too cold too quickly. So now I leave a lightweight sweater in my car at all times just for grocery shopping. (When I keep it in my car, I can’t forget it at home.) Even during the summertime, I carry my sweater into the store, and as I grab my cart, I put it on and now the rest of my shopping trip is much more comfortable.
6. Choose your playlist – This is one of my newest grocery shopping routines. Before I go into the store, I will find a music playlist on YouTube or a podcast and put in my earbuds. Surprisingly when I block out all the normal noise at the grocery store, I am actually able to focus more clearly on the task at hand and can actually shop faster. If you just want to block out the noise but not listen to anything, you can do that too. Your earbuds can work like earplugs, and no one will be the wiser. Either way, this should help cutdown on some of the sensory overload.
7. Be awake/ Caffeine – I noticed that if I grocery shop first thing in the morning after my coffee or basically when I am a fully functioning human, it is a lot easier to get the grocery shopping done. If you are not able to hit the store at your peak mental time, then try having a soda or coffee before you go for a little mental pick me up before you tackle your grocery list. (Pro tip: don’t buy the coffee or soda in the store to drink. Even though lots of stores have a mini-Starbucks or easy to grab drinks, these items can add up really quick and take away from your grocery budget.)
8. Try Curbside Pick-up – if these other suggestions are not helping the exhaustive nature of grocery shopping, then consider doing grocery store curbside pick-up. You can plan your list online at your favorite grocery store from the comfort of your own home at any time of day that you want. You schedule a time that it is convenient, like right after you get off work, then you show up at the designated parking spot at your store. You usually use the app or call a number and then someone comes out and puts all your groceries in your car for you. I don’t recommend having your groceries delivered to your home unless you can afford the delivery charge. Most stores now offer online shopping and curbside pickup at little to no cost if you make an order over a certain dollar amount like $30. This way you can skip the grocery store completely, stick to your list/ budget, and still get all the groceries that you need without all things that cause it to be exhausting.

Some people benefit from using one or two of these tips, and other’s benefit from doing a combination of all of them. To really get to the root of your grocery store woes, try out one tip and see if there is any improvement. The next time try another one. Before you know it, grocery shopping will be quick and easy!

Do people like to go grocery shopping?

Now you may be wondering if anyone actually enjoys going grocery shopping. Back in the day when it was much easier to find good deals and everyday items weren’t skyrocketing in price, the grocery store trip wasn’t bad at all.

Unfortunately, lately all I can think about is how my grocery budget is staying the same but the number of groceries I buy is going way down. Then I start wondering how I am going to pay for gas and pay the electric bill.

Before I know it, I am having a full-on panic attack in the cereal aisle. I have found that the best ways to avoid anxiety and panic in any situation is to be prepared.

When I have a plan in place for situations that pop up out of my control, I am more likely to stick to the plan and get through my day. It’s like carrying a ladder around with you just in case you fall in a hole.

You will find that when you always carry a ladder, you seem to fall in less holes. I am not sure why this happens, but I think my brain knows not to panic because I have a backup plan waiting just in case.