How to have a stress-free shopping trip

Do you find shopping can be stressful and overwhelming? Are you not enjoying your supermarket trips or jaunts into town? If you’re looking for stress relief tips for shopping, then read on to discover our top stress-free shopping tips.

Stress-free shopping tips:

• Write a thorough list
• Consider the time you go
• Give yourself plenty of time
• Bring snacks and water
• Embrace technology
• Go with a friend or loved one

Write a thorough list

One of the best ways to take the stress out of any shopping trip is to write a thorough shopping list. Whether you’re popping into town to buy a few bits and bobs or need to do a big shop at the supermarket, knowing exactly what you need means you’ll not forget anything, be able to save time by only going where you need to go, and can save money by making sure you don’t pick up items you don’t really want.

One of the best ways to make sure everything is accounted for during a food shop is through meal planning. This means before you go shopping, sit down and decide which meals you’ll be having on which days. That way, you’ll be able to make sure you’ve purchased all of the ingredients you need and don’t buy anything you aren’t going to get around to eating.

READ MORE: Meal delivery services and help for those in older age

Consider the time you go

For those with flexibility in their schedules, it can be especially useful to consider the time you go. Trying to visit the shops at quieter times means you’ll find parking easier, not have to deal with crowded aisles, check out quicker and generally have a calmer experience.

If you have a preferred supermarket, why not try a few different days and times to find one that works best for you? You might find that an early morning shop works best, with freshly replenished shelves. Or, you might find a later shop is better for your schedule and ensures empty aisles.

You might even find that your local supermarket offers specified “quiet hours”. Many larger supermarkets have implemented sensory-friendly slots during the week to create a more relaxing environment for those who struggle in noisy environments. During these hours, lights might be dimmed, intercom announcements reduced, till beeps quietened and music turned off.

At the time of writing, quiet hours at major supermarkets are as follows:

• Aldi – Aldi does not currently offer quiet shopping hours as standard across stores. It did trial them across 100 stores in the UK in 2023, but no official roll-out has been announced.
• Asda – Monday to Thursday, 2 – 3 pm, in larger stores. Asda reports that, during these times, the radio is turned off, and colleagues work quietly throughout this time.
• Lidl – Lidl currently only offers quiet shopping hours in Northern Ireland, which fall between 6 – 8 pm on Tuesdays.
• Morrisons – Saturday 9 – 10 am. Morrisons shares that, during this time, the lights are dimmed, music and radio are turned off, tannoy announcements are avoided, checkout beeps are turned down, and customers and colleagues are made aware of the fact it is a quiet hour.
• Sainsbury's – Sainsbury's does not currently offer quiet shopping hours in stores.
• Tesco – Wednesday and Saturday, 9 – 10 am. Tesco reports that, during this time, they’ll reduce lighting in their large stores.
• Waitrose – Waitrose does not currently offer quiet shopping hours in stores.

Give yourself plenty of time

Something that can cause stress is working against the clock, so making sure you have plenty of time is essential to an easy shopping experience. Not only should you ensure you have enough time in the shop, but also enough time to unpack the shopping when you get home. All it takes is a busy rush on the tills or traffic on the way home, and you can find yourself rushing to get everything packed away.

Bring snacks and water

This can be especially useful if you know you’ll be out on a long shopping trip. Make sure you’ve always got some water and a snack with you to keep you energised and refreshed as you browse. Even if you choose to leave these in the car as a just-in-case item, it can be easy to lose track of time whilst shopping and not realise you’ve not drunk or eaten anything until it’s too late and you start to lose focus and feel hungry. 

Embrace technology

Many supermarkets now offer “scan as you shop” schemes that allow you to scan your items as you move around the store. This technology means that you’re still able to shop as usual, but you’ll be able to keep track of the price as you browse and enjoy a faster checkout. Once your account is set up, you can pick up a handset in-store and get to work.

On its website, Asda outlines some of the benefits of its Scan & Go system: “Scan & Go makes keeping track of spending simple. The handset and mobile app display a running total as you shop, so there are no surprises at the checkout.”

“Create a shopping list on your Asda Scan & Go mobile app before you shop. When in store, simply load your list and tick off the items as you go. Never forget the milk again!”

Or, if you’re looking for something simpler, why not try online shopping? You can get online shopping delivered to your home or local supermarket to be collected. For those suffering from mobility issues who rely on aids such as curved stairlifts, online shopping can be a useful tool, letting you do a full shop without leaving the house.

Go with a friend or loved one

Finally, consider shopping with a friend or a loved one. Splitting the chore of shopping in half by going with someone else can be a great idea. Whether you ask for some assistance getting your own shop or just see if you and a friend can coordinate times and pace the aisles together for some retail therapy, catching up as you do, you don’t need to go it alone.

Whether you’re looking to increase your independence at home or relieve stress from your joints, we’re here to assist with your mobility aid needs, supplying a range of stairlifts to suit any home.

If you’re looking for more guides and advice, be sure to check out our blog.