Tag: Schedules

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4 Goals to Recommit and Reorganize 2021

Posted on by Denise Lewis

Hello 2021! Jumpstart the New Year

Ringing in the New Year means setting new goals and recommitting to lifestyle choices and habits that fall to the wayside during the Holiday season. I’m not one that usually sets yearly goals in January as I believe we should commit to improving our lives all year, but I have to admit I’m looking forward to putting 2020 behind me and moving into 2021. This year has been one for the history books and committing to a new outlook and a reestablishment of a somewhat normal routine is appealing.

This year I am committing to 4 goals. Some are health related, some are work related, and all are family related.

Goal 1–Balance

This year I’m seeking meatphorical and literal balance in my life. I’ve strayed from my yoga practice and from balancing work and family.

balance, goals, organization
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Practice Yoga 3 Times a Week

The first way I am seeking to reestablish balance in my life is to commit to practicing yoga 3 times a week. The 30-40 minutes I spend breathing and stretching will help me gain perspective, flexibility, and mindfulness. For me, yoga is my time to connect my mind and soul–find balance. Even when I wobble (which I do at least once per session) I am firmly pressing my feet or hands to the ground and feeling the solid connection between the earth and my life. It reminds me that I am strong, firm, and grounded.

Do not Bring Work Home during the Week

The second aspect of balance for me is taming the grading. I’m a high school english teacher, and bringing work home (especially this year) is a given. From August-December of 2020 I probably worked almost every weeknight and probably 5-6 hours every Sunday. This was sustainable last semester because my kids didn’t have activities after school, and I didn’t have to run them to dance, football or Jazz Band. We all used the extra time in the evenings to complete school work. January of 2021 brings a return to 5 day a week face-to-face school for all of us, and a return to activities as normal. This means my evenings will be spent picking my son up from Basketball and traveling to his games, taking my daughter to ballet twice a week, and a return to my husband teaching at a local university 2 evenings a week. I need to leave work at work during the week. I haven’t figured out yet what that looks like, but I can not meet my family expectations and also have the expectation that I will answer email and grade late-work each night until 10PM.

Goal 2- Spend more time with my Husband

It seems counterintuitive that people practically homebound for 9 months need to spend time together, so I should probably qualify and add that I want to spend intentional time together. Falling asleep on the couch in the evening does not count as intentional time.

Don’t take your loved ones for granted.

I spent much of 2020 making sure my two teenagers didn’t feel lost, left-behind or frustrated. I patiently answered homework questions, read aloud books to my son, baked bread, made cookies and crafts with them, and tried to create a home that didn’t feel suffocating and dull; however, focusing so much on work and kids meant that my husband got what was left, and let’s be honest–that wasn’t much. In 2021 I want to spend intentional time with my spouse talking, laughing, and reconnecting. A glass of wine by the fire, or a cheese plate in the evening where we talk about our dreams, intentions, and hopes. No devices, no TV, no distractions–just us.

Goal 3-Spend less time on my Digital Devices

I love to read, and I can’t even tell you how many books I read a year, but I have noticed that I am spending more time on social media and on my devices. I miss holding a book in my hand. I miss having that book smash me in the face as I fall asleep reading. We live in a world that is now a 24 hour news cycle, and it is time to un-plug and to achieve balance.

reading, un-plug, goals, organization

I added five new books to my stack today, and I intend to start one tonight. If I can get my family to join me each night for 20 minutes of reading that would be a bonus. Just 20 minutes a day will add over 1,000 new words to your vocabulary in a year! I know someone who will take AP Language and Composition, the SAT and the ACT next year, so building vocabulary will be very helpful.

Goal 4- Household Chores

This is absolutely not a fun goal, but it is a necessary one. I am tired of spending my weekends grading, grocery shopping and cleaning. I’m sure many of you can relate. We work all week, and then spend all weekend doing laundry, food prepping and cleaning. I’m more exhausted on Mondays than I am on Thursdays because I don’t take a break over the weekend. Part of achieving balance is creating a cleaning schedule for everyone with the rooms in rotation. Time for a family meeting that puts together a chart with expectations and a clear schedule. My kids don’t mind helping if they have clear lists and, ok, I may bribe them a little, but hey–whatever it takes to get them to clean their bathrooms and do their own laundry.

Commit and Organize

Whatever 2021 brings, I plan to tackle it with with grace, balance and a new supply of Sharpies and chart paper for my lists. Wherever you are in your journey toward balance and organization, remember that setting small, achievable goals is the key to mastering the chaos.

Posted in Family Schedules, Healthy Meals, Meal Planning

Why Meal Planning is Essential for Taming the Chaos

Posted on by Denise Lewis
Weekly and daily organization helps keep everyone on time and happy.
Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com

As much as I like to cook, coming home from work or the gym and getting peppered with “What’s for dinner, Mom?” isn’t what I want to hear when I walk through the door. After dropping my bag, I next go stand in front of the fridge and stare–hoping inspiration will strike. Or  I’ll look at a recipe, and find I’m missing an ingredient. How do I avoid this and decrease my stress at the end of the day? A weekly meal plan.

Why Meal Planning is Beneficial

Meal planning is beneficial for many reasons, and for me, it takes the guesswork out of what to make for dinner each night. We are less likely to eat out and more likely to eat healthy if everyone knows ahead of time what is on the menu. Additionally, my meal planning functions as a family calendar and schedule. It helps me choose Slow Cooker meals on nights when my kids have back-to-back activities. A simple meal in the crockpot allows a wholesome and healthy dinner to be ready when we are. Finally, I find meal planning helps me stay within my monthly food budget. When I plan my menu, I also plan my shopping list. I know what I need to purchase and only what I need to purchase. It keeps impulse buys out of my shopping cart, and it keeps us from eating out because we don’t know what to fix for dinner.

Where to Start

Step 1

  • Begin by recording the weekly schedules and activities for your family. I use a small magnetic whiteboard to record all activities and my menu. Why? It allows me to plan for nights I may be busy–a good night for leftovers, sandwiches, or a slow-cooker meal. 

Step 2

  • Check the fridge and freezer.
    • Take stock of what you have and what needs to be eaten in order to avoid waste. Do you have a package of ground turkey in the freezer or a package of asparagus that is getting soft? If so, make a note and plan around those ingredients. 

Step 3

  • Gather your recipes.
    • Browse your favorite cookbooks, magazines, and Pinterest sites. I have several Pinterest boards based on food groups and food types. During the Fall, I use my Slower Cooker Board more often than my Grilling Board, and in the Spring and Summer, we tend to eat more salads and lighter meals. 

Step 4

  • Build your menu

Step 5

  • Make your grocery list and do your shopping for the week.

Step 6

  • Post the menu where you and your family can see it.

Weekly Tips

Sample Menu for July

Knowing the menu each night takes the quess work out of cooking.
Posting the weekly menu and schedule reminds everyone of their responsibilities.

Tips for Monday are to make your quinoa ahead of time. You can also substitute your favorite rice or other grain. If you are in a hurry, there are many 90-second healthy rice options that cut your prep time down. Also, use whatever vegetables you have on hand. I added beets and carrots to our bowls because everyone likes them. Just toss your veggies in a bit of olive oil and roast for about 45 minutes or until tender. I usually set the oven at 425.

Tuesday’s tips include making your pizza dough ahead or keeping a good quality frozen dough in the freezer for Pizza Night. We usually do some sort of flat-bread or pizza once a week, and having the dough in the freezer is helpful. I will often make a double batch of my Whole Wheat Pizza Dough and freeze half for later use. 

Wednesday is pretty straight forward. Season and grill some chicken breasts or tenders and top with your favorite veggies and condiments. Set everything out on the counter and let your family build sandwiches. I added some leftover pesto from Tuesday’s pizza to my sandwich, topped it with sliced tomatoes from my patio garden pots, and finished with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Yum!

Thursday’s meal is my go-to when I forget to plan ahead or if I want a quick vegetarian option. Like Monday’s bowls, the frittata uses any vegetables that I have left at the end of the week. This week we are using up asparagus, zucchini, and tomatoes. I also added fresh basil, thyme, and oregano from my herbs growing in the sunroom. Dried Italian Seasoning also works, or whatever your favorite seasoning combination is. 

Cheat Day is practically a national holiday in our house. It is the one day a week where we eat out for dinner and we allow ourselves to splurge on a dessert or two. That isn’t to say we do not have snacks during the week, but the grown-ups at least try to eat healthy six days a week and then treat ourselves on the seventh. 

Saturday is a great day for a cookout and this week Turkey Burgers are on the menu. You can purchase them pre-made in the fresh or frozen aisle or make your own. I made mine with cheddar, bacon, and BBQ sauce. 

Leftover Day is also a good idea, and you can place it on any day you want. During the school year, Leftover Day seems to be Tuesday. I think it is because I have more time to cook during the weekend and tend to make larger meals with more leftovers. During the summer is rotates. This week it is Sunday because we have been hiking, and the last thing I want to do when I come home after a long, hot hike is to cook, so Leftover Day it is.

Here’s my menu for the week. I have recipes from various sites, cookbooks, and family favorites, so if you are interested in any of these, I suggest looking at Pinterest. You can see that I also have my family activities for the week noted. This helps me know who’s turn it is to cook and when and where we need to be.

Wrap Up

However you design your weekly meals, the planning is what is essential. Knowing what to fix takes the guesswork out of the process at the end of the day. Give it a try. What do you have to lose? Nothing really. And, what do you have to gain? A step in taming the chaos and perhaps even a well-deserved break with your favorite cup of coffee.