How I Learned To Breathe Easy

One Of The Best Ways I Used To Simplify My Life (And You Can?Too!)

Quick, shameless plug here: If you’re interested in creating some simplicity in your life, you’re welcome to join our community in the “A Simpler Life” Newsletter.

Find out more about "A Simpler Life"

Now, back to our regular programming…

I came home around 4:30pm on a Wednesday, tired, hungry and ready just to sit down with a coffee and a snack.?

But as I walked into the lounge room, my senses were assaulted by the mess, the clutter, cushions strewn all over the place, empty glasses and plates, and crumpled, used serviettes rolling around on the floor like tumbleweeds.

It was soul destroying.

I knew then that I had to get my act together.

Since my 92 year old Mother-In-Law (with dementia) and the grandsons (2 under 4 years old) had descended on my home, it had taken a battering.

As I looked over the devastation, I sighed.

This is not going to end well, I thought.

I knew that I had to get smart about some process improvement so that I could reinstall some peace and harmony into my home -

For all our sakes.

My battle-worn husband was retreating to his under-the-house man cave more and more often, I’d noticed.

That left just me to sort this out.

And that’s what I did.

PRESENT DAY

Do you ever feel like I did?—?overwhelmed, sick to your stomach, not knowing which way to go next?

I hear you.?

Loud and clear.

So I thought that I’d share one of the best ways I used to simplify my life.

These days, the house has definite moments of calm,

The inevitable eruptions of chaos are quickly managed,?

Without a single drop of blood being shed!

PRACTICE MINDFUL EATING

Confusion reigns supreme in the home that dreads these 3 little words:

WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

Often heard, every day, and by different family members.

Not only does this question strike fear into the hearts of mere mortals,?

It upsets the focused rhythm of Mothers and Matriarchs everywhere!

Whatever workflow you had going,

Is gone. Pfft!?

Like a puff of air.

Because, the dinner question is PARAMOUNT.

The stress it puts us under can lead to poor choices -

Including the decision to get takeaway food,?

Or break out the pre-mixed pasta packets,

For the 3rd time this week.

Here’s how I robbed the “What’s For Dinner?” question of its power,?

Once and for all.

?

MY CUNNING PLAN

· Create a list of your family’s favourite meals. (This will change over the seasons.)

· Plan meals for the next fortnight, based?on the favourite meal list you’ve created.

· Create a shopping list using the meal plan as the “requirements”.

· Go shopping (buy in bulk wherever you can to save money and save having to go again to the store to get that one item).

· Stick this fortnight’s meal plan in an easy to see place (e.g. on the fridge, pantry inside door).

· Cook largish portions of meals whenever possible (so there’s leftovers for the next day)

· Stick a small whiteboard where you can see it (e.g. fridge, pantry) and write any food or household item on it when it’s getting low. Use this as the basis of your next shopping list.

· Before going out of the house, use your phone to take a quick photo of the whiteboard. If you’re near a store when you’re out, you can buy what’s needed.

?

HERE’S WHAT?HAPPENED

The end result of all this preparation was that whenever I was asked “What’s for dinner?”,?

I could calmly direct the person asking to the meal plan and ask them:

“What would you like for tonight? Do you want to cook it?”,

OR

Tell them that it’s Tuesday and we’ve planned Thai Chicken Risotto for tonight.

And then quietly go back to whatever I was doing before they interrupted me.

?

How easy is that?

?

I know it sounds like a lot of fiddling around,

To create the meal plan and shopping list,

But believe me,

It’s saved me hours of blankly looking into the fridge

And pantry

Trying to imagine what meal I could magically create from a limp lettuce, frozen mince and a couple of wilted carrots!

Now, everything is on autopilot.

The meal plan changes every fortnight,?

The dinners are varied and yummy.

Everybody is happy.

I get to work in the zone for longer before dinner time.

Life is simple.

Q.E.D. as my Father used to say.

**********************************************************

If you’re interested in creating some simplicity in your life,

You’re welcome to join our community in the “A Simpler Life” Newsletter.

Originally published in Medium 10 August 2024

?