I recently shared 5 things that helped me “adult” a little bit better. You can check out that post here: 10 Things That Help Me “Adult”: Part 1. Today I wanted to share the remaining five! I would love to know if you do any of these 10 things, or if there is something else that helps things run smoothly!

6.Laundry/Sheet Days

I feel like laundry is a never ending feat. From all of our regular clothes, to work clothes, to towels, to bedding…it just goes on! I have realized that for me I basically have to do a different load each day. I will fold that load the next morning while I am watching the news and drinking coffee, or during nap. I have also allocated the 1st and the 15th of the month as “bedding days” to strip and wash all our bedding. It has helped me not be so overwhelmed and keeps me on track!

7.Dishwasher 

Since we cook so much and primarily eat at home, we always have so many dishes. I now wait to run our dishwasher at night so it has plenty of time to dry and will unload it before I wake up my son. It is so nice having a specific time to wash and unload and has made a difference!

8.Financial Awareness/Tracking

Taking ownership of your finances will help so much with simply being aware. There are so many ways and systems to keep up with them as well as budget, it truly is amazing! You can check out some of my financial thoughts here: Financial Lessons Part 1 & Financial Lessons Part 2.

9. Wake Up Clock

This has been amazing for our toddler! We introduced one shortly after he turned two to prepare him for when he sleeps in a “big boy bed”. He now loves it because he knows when it is “sleep” time and when it is “morning” time, especially if he wakes up in the middle of the night. He has also learned that if he is awake early he waits until it turns green for us to come in. It has been such a blessing having a structured wake up time and knowing what time I start mom mode!

10. Weekend Morning Shifts

Once my son finished nursing (around 15-16 months) my husband and I started switching off weekend mornings. He would be on morning duty one day, and I would take the other. This was such a game changer for me personally since I was so used to always waking up to nurse. Whoever has the “morning shift” will bring the other coffee in bed and just allow alone time/relaxation which is SO needed for both of us! It truly is amazing.

 

Blessings,

Jac

As I was doing some of my routine “chores” this weekend, I began to think about small things I do or implement that simply help me to “adult”. Many of these I don’t even think twice about because they have become such a part of my norm. I thought it would be fun to share ten things that help me “adult” to give some ideas or considerations. Here are my first five….the second half will come later this week!

I would love to know anything you do!

1.Calendar

I would be lost without a calendar! I use it for the three of us and write all important dates or to dos that I need to remember. I write down birthdays, appointments, trips, payments, and things to remember (ex: quarterly tax payments).  I keep a personal one as well as have a big one on our office desk so my husband can also see anything upcoming. I prefer seeing a month at a time so I can have a big picture idea and know of anything ahead. You can truly do what works best for you in this area with paper, digital, color coding, etc…

2.Cleaning System

I have always cleaned our home and used to try to knock it out all on the weekend, which was miserable. I felt like I spent the entire day cleaning and I resented it even more. I decided to chunk up our home or put it into “zones” so it wasn’t so overwhelming and gave me a small task each day. I felt like once our home was zoned I could actually deep clean each area and it only took me an hour or so, which was great! I now only deep clean once a month (the last week) and keep it tidy/spot clean the other 3 weeks.

Feel free to use my schedule here and make it your own: Zone Cleaning Schedule

3.Recipe Binder

My husband and I love to cook. We truly only eat out once or twice a month so we are constantly in the kitchen. Last year, he mentioned creating our own recipe book so we could keep everything in one place. I made a family recipe book for one of his Christmas gifts, and it was honestly one of the best things I have done. I have it in a sectioned binder and laminated each page on thick laminate so we could take it out and it could be easily wiped off. I prefer a binder just so I can easily add to it, however there are so many ways to keep recipes organized and in one place. It is a life saver when you just don’t know what to cook or make!

4.Simple Meal Prep

I used to be pretty intense about meal prepping, however now I just do the things that truly make things easier for us throughout the week. I plan out 4-5ish meals for a week (no specific days) to allow a night or two of leftovers or pickup. Do what truly works best for you and is obtainable/realistic!

5. Routines/Systems

Creating routines and systems in the home is a game changer! It allows me to complete tasks easily and efficiently simply because they are our house norm. It can be anything from laundry, working out, cleaning, bills/finances, paperwork, yard work, chores, meal planning, morning, evening, etc. Find what works best for you and your family and go for it!

Additional: Why I Value Routines

Stay tuned for the next five! 

Blessings,

Jac

If you know me personally, you know health and wellness have been a passion of mine for at least the past decade. I feel like I have been through many phases when it comes to nutrition and overall wellness. I have tried diets, trends, restrictions, cutting out entire food groups, and over exercising. They definitely weren’t some of my greatest moments, but like with anything, they were a learning experience. I can honestly say I will never do any of that again (unless there is a legitimate health need) and wanted to share my current mindset around food and where I am today.

A little backstory…pregnancy truly transformed the way I viewed my health because my choices (eating/exercise) had nothing to do with the way I looked. I was eating to fuel my body/baby with as many good nutrients as possible, and exercising to remain strong throughout pregnancy, delivery, and recovery. It was the wake up call that I needed and shifted my perspective to focus on my total health…mind, body, and spirit. It brought an awareness that I was previously missing, which I am so thankful for!

I wanted so share how I have established my current mindset/lifestyle in case it is an area you personally struggle in. Of course we are all different and have to do what works best for us in the season we are in.

I would love to know what has worked best for you when it comes to eating/nutrition!

1. Knowledge 

Educating yourself when it comes to food and nutrition is such a powerful thing. Knowing different food groups, serving sizes, and recommendations really helps you keep the “big picture” in mind with your habits and choices. Understanding the benefits and value specific foods add to your health helps keep the “why” in the forefront. It also helps you take ownership of your health because you understand the importance of fueling your body properly and how to do it. There is so much information out there to dive into and learn from.

2.Professional Support

Seeking the advice or knowledge from a professional is also extremely valuable. They can give specific recommendations based on your individual needs and goals, as well as create a system that works for YOU.  Yearly appointments/check-ups can provide beneficial conversations from your doctor and can give you a snap shot of your current health. They can also provide data to show improvement over time and work with you to reach a healthy place.

Additional Resource: Preventative Health

3.Long Term Vision

I now view my health as a long term goal and process. I choose to eat a certain way because I want to stay strong and healthy for my family. I want to feel good throughout each season of life and appreciate all the amazing things my body is capable of. My focus has shifted to maintaining good health and doing my part in honoring and taking care of my body.

4. Sustainability 

I am now at a point in my life where I recognize how important it is to create habits and a lifestyle that is sustainable. For me personally, restrictions of any kind were not a realistic expectation or habit. I wanted to create habits that I could maintain and not constantly be worried about. I couldn’t stay in a consuming “diet” mindset where I was always thinking about what I “could” and “could not” eat. It was exhausting and made me want those foods even more just because I thought I couldn’t have them. It also was unhealthy for me to constantly be thinking about food and have everything else revolve around it. I recognize the importance of a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a balance.

You can check out  my thoughts on that here: Balanced Eating.

5.Positive Food Relationship 

I think having a positive relationship with food and eating is SO important when creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Knowledge, education, and support will all help with this, as well as focusing on the mental aspect of wellness. Our minds our such a powerful tool in creating habits and discipline.

BONUS: Set Yourself Up For Success

At the end of the day, you are in control. Do the things that keep you successful and feeling good while still living your life. Be kind to yourself and your body. Being healthy isn’t a short term race with a specific end date. It is something to maintain throughout life…

Blessings,

Jac