Day 3: Groceries are a problem. I need too many to just run to the (expensive) nearby market. I could take the bike with the trailer attached, but good parents don't typically leave their young children at home alone. If I put the kids in the trailer, then I don't have room for groceries. Clearly, it's time to fire up the van for the first time this week. At least that's a small accomplishment.

To limit the number of car trips I make this week, I write out a list of all my out-of-walking distance errands and plan to do them at the same time. Really, I should be doing this anyway. At each stop, I park the car as far away as possible from the entrance. At the veterinarian, this means walking just a few additional feet. But at the big box grocery store where I stock up and some of my other stops, I bet I walked the length of a football field, which really adds up.

My only regret? That I didn't wear a pedometer to see how many extra steps this added to my day. Even if you can't walk everywhere, I think this is a worthwhile way to get a few extra steps in on a regular basis. It definitely takes a new mindset, though. Our busy modern lives have trained us to get in and get out as fast as possible. It was really tempting to grab that up close parking spot to make our errands go quicker, so it will take some mental work to make this a habit.