August 31, 2010

How to Stay Sane (perhaps I found the solution!)

I keep mentioning back to school but that is simply because my life will be on a schedule again.  Work 6-3:30, tutoring, homework, dinner, practice, blah blah blah.  Usually with this schedule, out goes the laundry, vacuuming, dishes, dinners, and everything that seemed orderly this summer.  FINALLY we are caught up on the laundry.  We have been sticking to our Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday laundry day routine.  And for the first time in years, it's working! wahoo!!  I am afraid that with the start of school, out will go what I strive for. Piece of mind. 
Perhaps I need to cut myself some slack.  With that, maybe I need to come up with ways that myself and my mental health will stay intact this year.  I don't want to spend my first minutes of every morning scrambling to find my other shoe, locating the butter in the packed fridge, and emptying the dishwasher so I have a clean water bottle for work.  I think about how I spent the previous year, and it boggles my mind that I didn't lose my cool. (well, totally lose my cool).  

Instead of a New Year's Resolution in January, I decided a New School Year's Resolution - since that is really how my year starts and stops.  

How I plan to keep a sane brain:
1. Connect with Others
        Time and time again, I say to myself "I should really call so-and-so", but I don't!  I would like to make it a point to contact one person a week and spend a fair amount of time chatting with them.
        I also would like to ACTUALLY mail out cards when I think of it - birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, thinking of you - I'm always LATE!

2.  Shake that Body! 

        I need to actually move my body this year.  I would like to go to the gym (I hate that forbidden word).  I would like to do yoga in the morning.  Now that we have a new member in our family, she needs a walk every morning and afternoon.  


  3. Stay with the program
        I've been mentioning our schedules - our cleaning calendar, our laundry days, our chore list.  No matter how busy we get, as a family we need to try to stick with what has been working. It also helps to plan our meals ahead of time, and ACTUALLY have the ingredients in the house! (gee what a concept).  Mr. doesn't really have a routine, or doesn't really believe in it (and I'll blame his childhood), but it's important to follow a schedule.  

4. Food on the brain
      This school year I am going to attempt to always bring my lunch and eat breakfast.  I am going to try to incorporate fresh veggies and fruits in my diet.  Any ideas for a healthy lunch??

There.  My four rules to live by.  Let's hope I stick with it!

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2 hearts about my post:

Amanda E said...

Kara, good luck with starting the new school year! I had my first day of orientation yesterday. I am teaching replacement (resource room) English which I know you did too. I'm pretty nervous!

Anyway, about lunches...I'm going to be trying to bring healthy lunches too. I found a few recipes that I want to try. I figure I could make these on the weekend and then have enough for several lunches.

Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1087108

Chicken Pitas with Sun Dried Tomatoes: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1634701

Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1087114

Asian Green Bean Salad: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1714608

Garden Salad with Citrus Viniagrette: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=630184

Hope you like one or more of these! I'm excited to try them!

Meghan Harvey said...

Great post! I am seriously considering printing it out and posting it on my fridge... Words to live by!