Being proactive is a great way to save time and avoid mishaps in the future. But, it isn't just a business term - you can take steps to be proactive in your personal life too. Here are ten things you can do to be proactive today:

Prepare for uninvited guests

You never know when uninvited guests will pop in right around dinner time, so instead of cooking just enough for one dinner tonight, double your recipe and freeze one for that "just in case" visit.

Never run out of frequently used items

Review your grocery list for the items you buy most frequently so the next time they go on sale you can stock up - ensuring you will always have enough in the house.

Greeting cards for every occasion

Buy at least five birthday, anniversary and sympathy cards during the first of the year and keep them in your planner or file folder. This allows you to always have them on hand when you need them - especially for those celebrations that you may overlook until the last minute. Also, purchase Father's Day and Mother's Day cards in quantity during the holiday season - you'll always have them on hand just in case.

Get your dates straight

Transfer birthdays, anniversaries and other important annual dates right when you change out your planner or calendar - if you wait until later, you may forget or accidentally throw away the previous year's calendar.

Never run out of school supplies

During the school season, stock up on several packs of paper, glue bottles, crayons, markers, pencils and other commonly used school equipment and place in a labeled bin in the office. The next time your child comes home with a note requesting more supplies you won't have to run to the store.

Cuts and scrapes always taken care of

Stock your first aid kit every six months so you never run out of bandages, compresses, pain relievers and antiseptics.