Mention the words 'bank holiday' and most people will conjure up the same visions: 17-mile tailbacks on some godforsaken motorway, rained-off barbecues or the seventh level of hell that is the DIY superstore.

That's just for starters... lest we forget, there are the dutiful family visits, the car to clean, the garden to contend with, the dreaded housework and of course the supermarket run. Have we forgotten something? Probably. You see, this is what always happens... Most of us end up with so much stuff to do that we spend what should be an enjoyable weekend leaping from pillar to post. So if you want to get the most out of the bank holiday weekend, here are a few suggestions...

Be prepared
These days everyone seems to panic-buy, and it generally has a knock-on effect, so unless you want to be fighting over the last chicken drumstick, do a big supermarket shop before the weekend, preferably online, so you don't even have to set foot in the place. Shove a load of emergency barbecue supplies in the freezer so you're ready to go if the mood (or weather) takes you, whether you're holding a barbecue or going to someone else's.

Now, take a deep breath and forget the housework. Yes, that's right. Let's face it, the chances are the house will be trashed again by the end of the weekend anyway, so you might as well leave it for once. Even if you have a willing partner who's desperate to clear up, get them to do something else useful instead – go and prepare the car if you're going on a long journey, or make some packed lunches if you're going out with the children.

While we're on the subject, if you've got children, the chances are you'll end up at a holiday resort, theme park or place of interest that involves spending copious amounts of money. If possible, make sure you book any tickets online in advance to avoid the queues when you get there. It's often cheaper to do it this way too – for example, you can save up to £6 per person if you book online for Alton Towers.

Avoid traffic trauma
If you're driving any distance it's worth having a back-up plan/destination just in case you are scuppered by traffic jams. And forgive me if this sounds obvious, but I'm speaking from bitter personal experience - make sure your map is up to date and covers your entire journey. Also, find out a local radio station frequency for your destination area so you can check how the traffic is doing before you return home.

If you just don't fancy socialising or wrestling someone for the last polystyrene pack of bedding plants, why not grab a book and a sandwich and drive to a peaceful beauty spot (if you can find one!) or park yourself in a quiet village pub. You could go to the cinema for a bit of escapism or just go for a swim and a shopping session. If you're single, this won't be a problem - in fact, you're probably lying on a beach in Greece right now, not reading this. However, if you have children, this is easier said than done. See if your partner or a relative could take them out for a few hours and leave you in peace.

Alternatively, you could all go to Greece or anywhere else within a few hours' travelling distance, for that matter. There are always plenty of cheap, last-minute deals available these days and you'd certainly escape the traffic jams (except for the ones to and from the airport, of course).

However, if you really want to cover all those traditional bank holiday pursuits, why not invite your family and friends over to your place. Tell them you're having a garden party, then when they turn up issue them with a pair of secateurs and some pruning instructions. Meanwhile, you can get on with assembling that flat-packed furniture or your lastest DIY project, and all the men can fight over who's going to wear the apron and hold the spatula over the barbecue. Easy. Now if you don't mind, I'll have one of those chicken drumsticks...

Useful links
Rediscover the UK
Days Out UK
The National Trust
UK Theme Parks
Lastminute.com