Have you ever had those days, you know the ones where you feel overwhelmed, anxious, and out of control. The days were you are certain you will lose your mind. The last thing you want to think about is dinner or meal prepping.
Are you out of control?
Feeling out of control all the time, I knew I needed to make a change. I was beginning to hate days at home with my kids. There was so much to do. All the medial tasks of dishes, laundry, errands. Then homeschooling, maintaining my job and having time to enjoy them. I was losing my mind with anxiety.
A Way Out
There had to be a way out. A solution to all these chores. I knew if I could get a couple of things off my plate, I can have more sanity and actually enjoy the time at home. Maybe, actually enjoy my kids.
I started by making a designated laundry day. Yes just one day for all 5 of us. Sometimes I have to suck it up and wear a sweat shirt I don’t really like, and I survive. Sometimes the boys are wearing that slightly too small shirt, but we are not strained. I usually schedule this laundry day for a day were all home. That means the hubby can help with the folding. The worst part of any laundry day.
Next I started meal prepping, and this is where I really felt relief. One day a week my husband and I cook all of the meals for the entire week ahead. On the day I am serving the meal all that’s required is a reheat and it’s ready. Have you ever tried cooking dinner with little ones clawing at your legs, yelling they are hungry? It’s the worst!! Meal prepping relieved me of this stress. A stress that was unnecessary.
The truth is, this wasn’t a big change. Most days I was eating my food cold due to the chaos of little’s. My husband works late and was reheating his dinner when he got home. The reality is, I wasn’t changing the way dinner was eaten, I was just making dinner time less stressful. I wish we had the time to all sit down as a family, but with our chaotic work schedules during the week we all just survive !
Speaking of surviving – it’s hard to do without enough water. Check out Breaking Up with Water to learn how water affects your body. I make sure to start my day and end my day with a full glass of water. Check out the post above for why.
Meal prepping has helped cut down my stress. I no longer have to cook with a screaming one year old at my feet and two other boys yelling how hungry they are. Meal prep helps with the flow of bedtime. I’m at ease and relaxed, everyone can eat when they’re hungry. No more yelling, no more stress. This makes our relaxed weekend meals together all the better !
How do you cut done on the day to day chaos? Have you thought about meal prepping? Let me know in the comments !