This is my last installment of suggestions for how to manage our cluttered, busy lives. If you feel overwhelmed by your stuff and life in general, maybe it's time you simplified.
How? Here are some suggestions:
1 - Be content with what you have.
2 - Give generously.
3 - Work hard and finish what you start.
4 - Thin out your stuff.
5 - Examine your priorities, say "no" when necessary.
6 - Set goals and work slowly toward them.
7 - Live below your means.
8 - Get fast cleaning habits.
9 - Cook simple meals at home.
Learning a repertoire of good healthy meals you can get on the table consistently is so important. Eating out too often is expensive, unhealthy, and it complicates your life.
My husband is a great cook, but we don't eat fancy meals often, usually just for company. We enjoy simple food that is cooked well. If you stopped by our home on a typical week night you'd see a grilled chicken breast, some steamed or roasted broccoli and cauliflower, and a baked potato on our plates. We enjoy a nice steak every now and then, and I don't hesitate to buy lovely fresh fruits and vegetables to fill up the fridge. Whatever I buy at the grocery store is cheaper than ordering in a restaurant, so I make sure we have good food ready to cook.
We have always made a habit of packing lunches too. Eating lunch out is a budget buster - don't do it too often! When our boys were in school we always packed lunches every night after dinner for the next day. With a little planning and prep you can cook great meals and save lots of money for other things you really want.
If you don't consider yourself a talented cook, start with a few simple meals like chili, baked chicken, or pasta. Here are a few websites loaded with easy recipes like:
Real Simple
5 Ingredient Recipes
Simple Meals for Eating Well
Simple Crock Pot Recipes
Don't excuse yourself from cooking for your family- you can do it!!
10 - Prepare the night before.
Whether you're a stay-at-home wife or a working mother, you know the panicked stress of the morning routine. With so many things to organize, not to mention breakfast, anything prepared the night before is wonderful.
I've been a full-time employed teacher for about 20 years, and before that I was caring for my children and taking university classes for 5 years. I know the challenges of the morning rush.
Before I go to bed, my clothes are ready, lunch is packed, breakfast is lined up, and my school bag is ready to go. I've always done everything possible at night to make the morning flow smoothly. It's made it a little easier to get up around 5 am and be out the door quickly to start my early high school job.
3 - Work hard and finish what you start.
4 - Thin out your stuff.
5 - Examine your priorities, say "no" when necessary.
6 - Set goals and work slowly toward them.
7 - Live below your means.
8 - Get fast cleaning habits.
9 - Cook simple meals at home.
Learning a repertoire of good healthy meals you can get on the table consistently is so important. Eating out too often is expensive, unhealthy, and it complicates your life.
My husband is a great cook, but we don't eat fancy meals often, usually just for company. We enjoy simple food that is cooked well. If you stopped by our home on a typical week night you'd see a grilled chicken breast, some steamed or roasted broccoli and cauliflower, and a baked potato on our plates. We enjoy a nice steak every now and then, and I don't hesitate to buy lovely fresh fruits and vegetables to fill up the fridge. Whatever I buy at the grocery store is cheaper than ordering in a restaurant, so I make sure we have good food ready to cook.
We have always made a habit of packing lunches too. Eating lunch out is a budget buster - don't do it too often! When our boys were in school we always packed lunches every night after dinner for the next day. With a little planning and prep you can cook great meals and save lots of money for other things you really want.
If you don't consider yourself a talented cook, start with a few simple meals like chili, baked chicken, or pasta. Here are a few websites loaded with easy recipes like:
Real Simple
5 Ingredient Recipes
Simple Meals for Eating Well
Simple Crock Pot Recipes
Don't excuse yourself from cooking for your family- you can do it!!
10 - Prepare the night before.
Whether you're a stay-at-home wife or a working mother, you know the panicked stress of the morning routine. With so many things to organize, not to mention breakfast, anything prepared the night before is wonderful.
I've been a full-time employed teacher for about 20 years, and before that I was caring for my children and taking university classes for 5 years. I know the challenges of the morning rush.
Before I go to bed, my clothes are ready, lunch is packed, breakfast is lined up, and my school bag is ready to go. I've always done everything possible at night to make the morning flow smoothly. It's made it a little easier to get up around 5 am and be out the door quickly to start my early high school job.
This is the end of my "Simple Life" list of tips. I hope at least one of these will help you navigate your life's challenges more easily. These are my tactics for keeping my life manageable, sane and simple!
Leave a comment to let me know how you manage your life's challenges - they will inspire others to do the same:)
Leave a comment to let me know how you manage your life's challenges - they will inspire others to do the same:)
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