What did your life look like last week?
And how did it feel?
Were you juggling too many things while racing from task to task?
Was your mental to-do list a mile long and your self-care nonexistent?
Did you limp through last week, wondering how in the world you were going to get everything done?
This whole being-a-person thing can be so overwhelming, can’t it? And that’s on the best of days before we even factor parenting and homeschooling into the mix.
Yikes!
How can we set ourselves up for success before our week starts? How do we make sure we have enough time for things like self-care, quality family time, and adequate rest?
Here are 5 things you can do this week to make next week easier!
1. Decide what time you will wake up and go to bed.
Before next Monday morning rolls around, make a commitment to yourself that you will go to bed at a specific time, and wake up at a specific time.
Now, I totally get that life happens and the best of plans can get squashed by unexpected things that pop up.
But consider the things you DO have control over.
You have control over whether or not you bring your cell phone or laptop into bed with you.
You have the ability to put your pajamas on earlier, play some mellow music, or stretch for a few minutes before climbing into bed.
What this looks like for me:
At this current stage of my life, I get up at 7 am and go to bed at 11 pm.
I set a bedtime notification on my phone which chimes a half hour before bed. This signals my time to wind down. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, so I try to get into bed with a book as close to 10 pm as possible so that I have plenty of time to read.
I keep my phone on the other side of the bedroom so that I’m not tempted to check it before bed. This also means that I have to get out of bed when my alarm goes off in the morning.
I am a snoozer. Big time! So if my phone/alarm is right next to me on my nightstand, I will hit snooze on that sucker more than once!
Look, this current time frame is NOT easy for me to stick with! I am a night owl, through and through. I usually get a burst of energy in the evening and feel most productive during this time. And I also LOVE staying up late reading.
But I also know that I function best when I get a solid eight hours of sleep. And while this doesn’t always happen, I do my best to make sure I get the critical rest that I need.
Questions to ask yourself:
Am I a morning or a night person?
How many hours of sleep do I need to feel refreshed?
At what time of day am I most productive?
What are some simple things I can do to help me relax before bed?
Tips to help:
About an hour before you go to bed, being winding down by doing the following:
- Put the screens away.
- Turn off a few lights or dim them if you can.
- Light a candle.
- Make yourself a cup of chamomile tea.
- Get in your pajamas.
- Do a few minutes of stretching or meditating.
Deciding what time you will wake up and go to bed before your week even starts, will set you up for success for the rest of the week!
2. Organize the clothes you will wear for the week.
Homeschooling usually means that we can rock our casual attire most of the time.
And since I am a huge fan of yoga pants, ripped jeans, and cozy sweatshirts, this homeschooling dress code is perfect for me!
Yay!
But if we’re not mindful, we can also fall into the trap of wearing the same thing all the time, staring at clothes piling up, and not feeling good in the clothes we’re wearing.
Boo!
I’ve found it helpful to have a good idea of what I’m going to wear over the course of the week. It keeps my decisions to a minimum which in turn keeps me from getting overwhelmed.
What this looks like for me:
Honestly, this is an area of my life I want to continue working on. I am a big fan of clothes that are comfy with a little Boho chic/artistic flair thrown in.
But are these the types of clothes I’m wearing?
Not really.
At least not consistently.
And this is simply because it’s so easy to default to the same few outfits without pausing to think about how I actually feel when I wear these clothes.
I’m also left scrambling for an appropriate outfit when I’ve planned for a day at home but
Eek!
So here is my new strategy that I’m playing around with:
I look at the calendar to see what the upcoming week looks like and then I plan my outfits accordingly.
A couple of appointments on Monday? A nice pair of pants and a button-down shirt with boots.
At home all day Tuesday? Yoga pants and a cozy sweatshirt.
Errands and getting together with friends on Wednesday? Jeans and a casual top with ballet flats.
And guess what item I’ve realized makes me feel the most like me when it comes to my clothing?
Earrings!
Yep, when I wear earrings that are my style, I immediately feel more comfortable and confident and well… more like myself!
Hooray!
None of my earrings are expensive but they’re fun, creative, unique, and oftentimes, big! And even when I’m just wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt, I feel better when I have a pair of these earrings on.
And so I’ve been prioritizing wearing a pair of earrings that I love every day.
Do you have a specific item of clothing or accessory that makes you feel the most like yourself?
Be sure to incorporate it!
Questions to ask yourself:
What clothes make me FEEL good?
What is my style?
Can I simplify my choices?
What does this upcoming week look like and what outfits will be appropriate?
Tips to help:
Select a specific outfit for each of the following:
- Staying at home
- Running errands and casual meetings
- Professional meetings and appointments
- Date night/girls’ night out
Don’t forget to include which shoes you will wear with each outfit.
Identify any clothing needs/wants.
Don’t forget what makes you feel the most like you! What adds a skip to your step and a twinkle in your eyes!?!
Organizing what you will wear for the week will help streamline your mornings.
3. Decide what you will have for dinner.
Let me start by sharing that I am a firm believer in keeping breakfast and lunch super simple! Healthy and ridiculously easy options ALL THE WAY!
Breakfast and lunch rarely cause much stress around here.
But dinner?
Ugh, dinner.
Now if you love cooking dinner, this is not the section for you. Skim ahead and go be a master chef in the kitchen!
But if, like me, you are not a fan of making dinner, read on in solidarity.
I have friends who are mini-Martha Stewart in the kitchen. They’re always concocting a new recipe or putting a fresh spin on an old favorite.
I adore these women. But I do not understand them. Honestly, their passion for cooking is beyond my comprehension.
Baking, however, is a different story! I love to bake!
But since chocolate chips cookies and brownies aren’t exactly stellar dinner options, I’ve begrudgingly accepted the fact that these people I live with are going to continue expecting dinner every evening.
Deep sigh.
And while I’m not nearly as consistent with dinner planning as I want to be, I do have a system that works pretty darn well for me.
And this is good enough, thank you very much!
What this looks like for me:
From a fairly young age, I’ve encouraged my children to prepare their own breakfast and lunch.
Because as I’ve already shared with you, I am not a fan of cooking!
It’s served as an opportunity for them to grow their independence and confidence in the kitchen.
And sure, this also relieves me of the prep work and clean up but hey, that’s just a convenient (and totally NOT premeditated perk, right!?!)
I also operate best when I keep things simple.
Having a seasonal framework helps me keep my options limited. Using produce that is in season simplifies my planning. And making meals tied to certain times of the year makes my decisions MUCH easier.
Soups, curries, and chili in the colder months.
Big salads and cooler dishes in the warmer months.
Crockpot recipes and casseroles are another wonderful way to plan ahead and ensure that dinner is ready for you when you are ready for it!
Dinner goes much more smoothly when I do the following:
Batch 3 meals for the week and double the amount needed for my family.
I double up so we have enough for two meals!
Then I’ve got 6 days done, no problem! And I’m only left with one day.
Yessss!!!
I keep that extra day simple. I like to have a backup meal in the freezer, like a pizza or lasagna. Or soup and sandwiches.
This is the easiest method I’ve found for dinner prep.
It just might make things easier for you too!
Questions to ask yourself:
What do my family members like eating?
Are there any allergies or food sensitivities I need to consider?
What is our current food budget?
Which ingredients are currently in season?
What are the simplest meals I can think of?
What is the best day of the week for me to batch-cook a few meals?
Tips to help:
Decide on 3 (and only 3!) dinners for the week and list out the ingredients you will need.
Decide which day(s) of the week you will do your grocery shopping.
Choose one day of the week to batch-cook these 3 meals.
Recruit help from your other family members. Once your children are old enough to be safe and helpful in the kitchen, put them to work! Get your partner on board! Between chopping vegetables, tossing ingredients into a crock pot, and layering a casserole, remember that many hands make light work!
Regardless of your daily approach to meal prep, decide what you will have for dinner this week.
4. Note what appointments/activities/errands you have.
Do you often feel like Monday morning arrives and you’re bombarded with a week crammed with obligations?
It’s crazy how quickly our calendars can fill up and how overwhelming this feels when we’re caught off guard.
Take the time THIS week to see what you have coming up NEXT week.
It will allow you to start next week feeling more on top of things, without being bogged down with forgotten obligations.
What this looks like for me:
Each Friday afternoon, I pull out my planner and look over what we have scheduled for the upcoming week.
I then set any necessary reminders and make any needed notes. I also update our simple family dry-erase board on the frig with this same information.
This way each family member can see what we have coming up with just a simple glance.
I used to do this on Sunday evenings but I’ve recently switched to Fridays because it allows me more space for relaxation and no significant planning has to be done on Sundays anymore.
Questions to ask yourself:
How is my current organizational system working for me?
Do I prefer writing things down or using my phone, etc to help me track important dates/times/obligations?
Does our family have an easy visual in our house to see what is on the calendar?
Is our family currently overextended? If so, is there anywhere we can cut back?
Tips to help:
Consider delegating specific tasks to a specific weekday.
For example, maybe Monday is errand day while you try to schedule most appointments on Tuesdays.
This consistency helps to build a solid routine.
Have a calendar out with important dates/times for the entire family to be able to see.
Choose a day towards the end of the week to review what you have planned for the upcoming week.
Note what appointments/activities/errands you have beforehand, so you don’t feel like a deer in the headlights when next week rolls around.
5. Figure out how and when you will practice self-care.
You could say that I saved the best for last! Self-care really is THAT important.
If we aren’t taking care of ourselves, there is absolutely no way we are going to sustain taking care of all of the other responsibilities in our lives.
I’m not implying that self-care needs to be a spa day, mani/pedi, or a bubble bath at home. Although if any of these examples fit your budget, go to town!
But quality sleep, regular physical activity, connection, and participation in activities you find enjoyable are CRITICAL to your overall well-being.
What this looks like for me:
There are a handful of things that make a huge difference to my overall well-being. Unfortunately, these are easily neglected if I’m not careful. But when I am consistently doing the following, I feel so much better!
- Getting 8 hours of sleep each night
- Limiting my sugar consumption
- Getting daily activity
- Connecting with friends and family on a regular basis
- Reading for pleasure each day
- Participating in some type of creative/artistic project on a regular basis
Questions to ask yourself:
How much sleep do I need each night to feel my best?
Which foods make me feel my best and which make me feel my worst?
What types of activities do I enjoy?
How can I incorporate these enjoyable activities into my life?
What are ways I can connect with friends and family?
Tips to help:
Prioritize getting the amount of sleep that your body needs.
Begin your day by incorporating things that you look forward to.
Are you a morning coffee drinker? How about tea? Do you prefer a little quiet time before the rest of the household wakes up? Does having music on in the background energize you?
And try to end your day by also incorporating things that soothe and settle you.
Watching an enjoyable show. Reading a good book. Doing some stretching and meditating. Whatever truly nurtures you and helps with your self-care.
So…
1. Decide what time you will wake up and go to bed.
2. Organize the clothes you will wear for the week.
3. Decide what you will have for dinner.
4. Note what appointments/activities/errands you have.
5. Figure out how and when you will practice self-care.
I hope you’re able to use some of these suggestions to ease any stress and overwhelm you might currently be experiencing.
Do these 5 things this week to make next week easier!
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