The efficiency expert concluded his lecture with a note of caution. ''You don't want to try these techniques at home.''

''Why not?'' asked someone from the back of the audience. ''I watched my wife's routine at breakfast for years,'' the expert explained.

''She made lots of trips to the refrigerator, stove, table and cabinets, often carrying just a single item at a time. 'Hon,' I suggested, 'Why don't you try carrying several things at once?'''

The voice from the back asked, ''Did it save time?''

The expert replied, ''Actually, yes. It used to take her 20 minutes to get breakfast ready. Now I do it in seven.'''