Planning
In an ideal world, we wake up excited about Monday as another opportunity to engage, another adventure waiting to be traveled. In reality, the snooze button is too short, the coffee takes too long to brew, and scarfing down a granola bar feels like a win. Not to be cliche, but finding little routines in life adds the necessary structure to really make it seem like living instead of surviving. These routines I started practicing in the last year and they have paid off in big ways – more time with my kids, more energy to make something nutritious (for not just dinner but lunches and breakfast), and playing and running to the park rather than that all too familiar mom-guilt at being exhausted, throwing some packaged dinner in the microwave and being just a little too excited about bedtime (SSSLLLEEEEPPP).
Picture it – you get home, the sitter left the house a wreck, animals/babies/you/spouse all need food, and there you are with purse in one hand and the strong temptation to go outside and have a moment before trying that entry again. But let’s back up and imagine a world where all of that stays the same but instead of joining the chaos or becoming a monster mom, you get to be the superhero with a plan, because let’s be real – you ARE a superhero for getting up, going to work, coming home. Instead of thinking of ordering takeout with built-in nutrition and budget guilt, you can reach into your fridge and find pizza dough or homemade bread and toppings that turns into a fun activity with kiddos! Ok, so here’s how to take up your super powers to a new level:
Sunday, get out your all purpose flour and whip it into a quick dough, then let it rise in the fridge (use within four days). Then whip up your homemade spaghetti sauce with carrots (gotcha little toddler – you ARE getting your veggies and don’t even know it!), and make sure you have mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, baked chicken breasts, and pesto in the fridge (Sam’s club has the best and they aren’t paying me for saying it). And guess what? You now have two meals ready to roll (plus a built in activity with your toddler by making pizza together after work) and you spent less than an hour on prep!
Check out these go-to ingredients for healthy lunches!
Check out this quick routine to save time cleaning!
Coffee Time: a noun/verb with the same result 