This week I went back to work and a radically new routine. Mr S starts quite early so I came up with a plan to make it possible for us to eat well at the end of the day and to make the most of the 'extra' time in the mornings. It's a lot easier this week because we had a public holiday and demands at work this week are light on.
What worked:
-having a very specific list of "easy" tasks to do in the morning, so I don't have to think too much
-a menu plan a week ahead, and sticking to it, choosing dishes which are manageable
- feeling that it does make a difference getting a few jobs out of the way, for example I've already done my bills for the week, and I'm about to menu plan so that frees me up this evening
-keeping TV off
-having rewards, e.g. Fridays no cooking
What didn't work:
-everything worked :) but it was harder on the days it rained which made it dark and cold
In order to make this work, my biggest challenge was to get to sleep earlier. It's slowly getting easier to go to sleep at 8pm. I've also got no excuse this term for not having a homemade lunch each day.
I feel really tired now... so much so that I was wondering whether next week I might actually come home next Friday and have a sleep!!! Probably not a good idea.
Examples of the food plan:
-a.m. Mon rice cooker on, cut up vegies, after work take a few minutes to make fried rice
-a.m. Wed cut up toppings, thaw dough, make savoury scrolls, after work put toppings on pizza and bake
-a.m Thurs make pasta bake, more to do for that dish so no extra jobs except making lunch
-a.m. Fri no meal prep, eat leftovers for dinner
One week down. How many to go?
Let's see!!
It's a dull, grey Sunday outside. Mr S is busy preparing a chicken, leek and mushroom pie and I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop. It's a nice, relaxing way to rest on the weekend.
This week I go back to work. We shopped this morning for the whole week. I've prepared the menu as I hope to cook each morning and have the meal ready, or mostly ready, when we come home in the late afternoon. I also want to try hard to take lunch from home most days so I included that in the planning as well.
I take Mr S to work at 4.30am each day which is sure to be a challenge once I get back to work. I think the most important thing is going to be getting to sleep earlier each night, and sticking to the plan.
This new routine will be a big change for me. Last year I worked hard to wake up earlier each day. It worked fairly well for someone who used to wake up at the last minute and make a mad dash to work. I managed to have breakfast at home most days and I was generally more prepared for work each day.
Yesterday we went for a bike ride. I really wanted to tackle a long bike ride along one of our bike paths but beyond our local area. I guess the truth is I rather fancied the idea of me taking leisurely rides in and around the suburbs during this summer. Until yesterday I had only taken short rides around our local area and I'm glad to say they were all lovely, enjoyable, leisurely short rides.
Yesterday's ride was a little different. We left early before it got too hot. All good. Mr S wanted to trial how long it would take if he were to ride to work. "Leisurely" was not so much on his mind. I was proud to almost keep up with him. He got to his workplace in about one hour. 15 kilometres. Then we had to head back. It was a much slower trip going back. Eventually I made it back home. 30 kilometres in all. I'm really proud to say I made it. Really proud. But, let's just say, the rest of the day was a write-off. My back hurt once I got off the bike. Neither Mr S or I could do another thing all day.
I think today will be an easygoing day as I savour the last moments of "freedom". I want to try making some cheese and mushroom scrolls based on a recipe I got from The Organised Housewife. If all goes well I hope to add it to my list of quick and easy recipes to use for lunches and snacks.
Happy Sunday and have a good week :)
