What’s my plan to remedy this situation?  I hope to set work boundaries at home.  For example, no more eating dinner at the computer screen, squeezing in work between bites!  Really, how efficient can my work be during dinner!?  Sometimes over multi-tasking makes people less efficient.  Also, keeping adequate sleep a priority.  When I get less than 8 hours of shut eye, I feel pretty lousy and lethargic the next day which I’m sure affects my productivity. 

Luckily, Cory has been stepping up around the house and helping with some of the cooking, cleaning, and laundry!  He actually cooked a roast over the weekend that turned out fabulous.  Speaking of the husband, we make our one year wedding anniversary in less than two weeks! 

To celebrate we are taking a vacation to the Windy City with a few other couples.  Let me know if you have any dining or entertainment recommendations for Chicago! It will be Cory and I’s first time visiting Chicago.

How do you stay balanced?

Thanks for reading

Kasey

As a dietitian, I hear a lot of excuses on why people don’t eat healthy.  The most popular are “I’m too busy to eat healthy” or “I don’t have time to cook”.  I truly believe that everyone has enough time to eat healthy and/or cook with proper planning and time saving strategies.

The first thing I do once I get home from the grocery is wash and cut all the fresh fruit and portion them out into portable containers for Cory and I to take to work as healthy snacks throughout the week.

Another snack favorite in our house lately is honey Greek yogurt.  I always have plenty containers on hand for a grab and go snack.

Because I’m not getting home until after 9pm two nights out of the week, I cook twice as much as I normally do when I have a free night to cook.  For example, Tuesday I knew I would be getting home too late to cook on Wednesday.  I planned ahead and prepared two dinners, Spinach & Shrimp Pasta (recipe coming soon!) and Shrimp Tacos, on Tuesday night that gave us plenty of home-cooked food as leftovers which is always better than the fast food option!

If you live with someone, how do you divide the household responsibilities?

Do you have any time saving tips or strategies related to eating healthy?

I hope everyone is having a great week. Thanks for reading

Kasey

A huge thing that is helping me stay on the right track despite my growing and growing “to do” lists is prioritizing.  I number each task based on importance/urgency.  For example, here is Cory and I’s “Wedding To Do List”-

Another thing I have found that helps me be more efficient is to avoid multi-tasking!  Trying to do too many things at one time stresses me out and slows me down as I am constantly switching gears from one project to another.  I work best with minimal distractions.  For example, I always blog without the TV or other noisy distractions playing in the background. 

Despite my best efforts, I could certainly improve at time management. Cory thinks I need to work on delegating or outsourcing responsibilities to others.  It’s true, sometimes I have the mind set that “if you want something done right you should do it yourself”.  But it’s also important for me to realize that I’m not superwoman and others can be very helpful.  I’m working on this but it’s hard.  I’m not a procrastinator so when I delegate a responsibility to someone who waits till the last minute to do things , I become impatient!

 How are you at time management?  Do you make “to do” lists?

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Kasey

So after sleep, work, and daily responsibilities, I have about 26% of my time leftover to dedicate to my interests, hobbies, fitness, relationships, and family. (Can you tell I enjoy math?)  I spend my “leftover” time enjoying music, favorite TV shows, movies, cooking, wine, blogging, sewing, reading, painting, yoga, walking, weight training, snuggling on the couch with Cory,  dinner with friends, holidays with family, travel… and the list can go on and on.  These are the things that motivate me to get up every morning.  Enjoying life is taking part in activities and relationships that are meaningful to you.

How about the other things that consume your time?  I don’t know about you, but I love sleep… can’t get enough of it!  And I am fortunate to be doing work that I love.  As for the other things, I try to make housework more enjoyable by playing my favorite music.   

Are you spending your days doing what you enjoy?  Research suggests that your outlook on life and the happiness that you get from life has a major influence on your health.  People whose lives lack meaning or purpose are more susceptible to depression or other illnesses such as heart disease.  Something as simple as having coffee with a friend can boost your mood.  I know I’m always happier after having dinner with a friend or watching a movie with Cory.

Good health doesn’t just consist of eating healthy and exercising regularly… mental health is an important component of health and wellness.  What do you do with your “leftover” time?  Is it time to readjust the way you spend your time?

“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” -Theophrastus