Okay, finally managed to get those routes planned out today. It’s been on my to-do list for a bit, and it feels good to have it squared away.
Getting Started
So, the first thing I did was gather all the addresses I needed to hit. Had them scattered around – some in emails, some scribbled on notes. Pulled them all together into one main list. Made things way easier than jumping back and forth.
Mapping it Out
Once I had the list, I fired up my usual map application on the computer. Didn’t use anything fancy, just the standard one everyone uses. Started plugging in the addresses one by one. Just wanted to see where everything was visually, get a lay of the land, you know?
Seeing them on the map helped a lot. I could immediately spot a few clusters and outliers. That gave me a rough idea of how I might group things.
The Actual Planning Bit
This part took the most time. I started grouping the destinations based on location. Tried to make logical zones or areas.
- Grouped the ones that were close together.
- Figured out a starting point and an ending point for the whole sequence.
- Then, I started dragging and dropping the stops within the map tool to see the different route options it suggested.
I paid attention to the estimated travel times it gave. Tried to avoid routes that looked like they’d send me back and forth across town unnecessarily. Looked for the most efficient path, basically. Had to reorder things a few times. Sometimes what looks close on the map takes ages because of one-way streets or weird junctions, so I let the app guide the specific turn-by-turn bits after I set the general order.
I also thought about timing – like avoiding certain areas during peak rush hour if possible, though sometimes you just can’t help it.
Final Checks
After I had a sequence I was happy with, I mentally walked through it one last time. Double-checked the addresses were entered correctly. Looked at the total estimated time and distance to make sure it seemed reasonable for what needs doing.
Done and Dusted
And that’s pretty much it. Saved the routes. Now I have a clear plan for each sequence of stops. Feels much better knowing it’s all thought out instead of just winging it. Ready for the next step, whatever that might be.
