Whenever you do one thing over and over regularly, you can save a lot of time by automating the process. 

Take the grocery list.  Most of us are creatures of habit and buy the same basic things every week.  Instead of writing out a new list each time (and having to explain in detail what brand, size, style you want of everything for the person who's shopping), it might be helpful to create a standard grocery list with your usual staples already listed (including preferred brand and size), then just fill in the quantities needed and any additional items throughout the week.

This can be done with things like school notes as well.  Several companies make pads of papers that can be used for a variety of school response situations such as sickness/lateness excuses or changes in pick-up routines, saving on those busy mornings when you don't have time to find a piece of paper, much less compose a note to the teacher!  Keep these note template pads on the side of your refrigerator or in the lunch-making area to make them easy to find.  Studio18 of Atlanta Georgia makes one such pad, or Family-Facts.com has another (pictured).  Google "note to school notepad" for lots of choices.

Or you can make your own.  Type in the standard sections ("School Notes For: ___", To: ___, From: ___, Date:___, Student: ___, etc.), and then make checkboxes for the different alternatives like "will be picked up by ___" or is late due to: ___".  Make some copies and save time ever after!

Think of other recurring situations that you can make more automatic. Templates and forms are standard practice in business, where they save a lot of time.  Use them at home to do the same!