Time management - cooking, cleaning, and exercise

Hi @BDivya, @chithirainilavu , @akila
Take rest Akila.

A lot of changes in my life but managing to maintain some routine.

Last Sunday I could not do much the whole day; had guests. Routine went a little berserk last week because of that.

Around 7:30 pm -
I pulled out the vegetable bins and made a list of all the veggies I have.
Then against each vegetable wrote what I can make with it-
example:
against brinjal I wrote - curry, gothsu, sambhar, masala kathirikkai, ennai kathirikkai kuzhambu.
Ladyfinger/okra - Stir fry, sambhar, puli kuzhambu
Cabbage - stir fry, kootu, veggie fried rice

Next step:
Planned my weekly meals as breakfast, lunch, dinner.
I take three factors into consideration:
1. Taste - I pair a tangy/spicy dish with a bland dish
2. Nutrition - The meal must have proteins, carbohydrates, fiber.
3. Types - Legumes, vegetables - starchy and nonstarchy, grains.

For example - If it is Vathhal kuzhambu - I make kootu with dhal
Sambar - a stir fried green/red vegetable combined with potato, Vazhakkai etc.

After making my list which took me about 30 minutes I checked to see what can be done ahead for Monday's cooking.
Cooked Tuvar dhal in pressure cooker. Also place a bowl of Water with a fist sized amount of tamarind.
Chopped the required vegetables.
Roasted and ground to paste.
This took about 30 -40 minutes. The tuvar dhal had cooled. Placed all in the fridge and went to bed.

Before going to bed, I placed my work clothes aside.

Monday: While milk was heating up, I pulled all the stuff from the fridge needed for the cooking. Had my coffee, logged in here, returned to kitchen, finished cooking, got ready for work and left.
At work.. every hour or so I got up my desk and took a 5- 10 minute walk.

Evening, after coffee, lit lamp, got stuff for dinner which is always light tiffin.
Checked Tuesdays menu, got everything ready for the day.
Cleared stuff lying around the home. Walked till I hit 10K steps. Went to bed.

The rest of the week was similar except I vacuumed one room a day - 15 minutes.

Have a happy weekend. Will post with better details next week.

 

Hi @BuviVishal
How are you? I remember the days when you were expecting. Congrats on the move to Germany.
I see that your baby is now four years old. Being mom to a toddler is a full time job.

Start with just one area at first. With a child you need to keep your schedule flexible because we never know what the kid will bring one minute to the other.

I would suggest getting your cooking organized. Speaking from my point of view, when I know my family's and my stomachs are taken care of, rest of the jobs become easier. Whenever my meals are unplanned I get stressed.

Starting today, write down what all ingredients/vegetables you have handy and what you can do with them for today's meals.
Also you know your child's routine and when you get some free time.
So plan on cooking during that time.

Start there.
best wishes.

 

Hi @BDivya
So nice to read you efficient use of early morning hours. Now you've inspired me to be regular.

Lately my weekends have been too busy to allow for planning; need to take a grip of my life.

Last weekend also I was busy going out on some errands I had no time to buy any vegetables till late Sunday evening. I totally dislike going out on Sunday for grocery shopping; but I had no other option.

So the rest of the week was day-to-day planning and cooking.
The only thing I did Monday was pressure cook a huge chunk of tamarind and kept it in the fridge.

Friday morning when I was waiting for the coffee to perk placed some tur dhal and arbi in the pressure cooker (instant pot). had my coffee and posted here.
Went to the kitchen began my cooking.

• Roasted for tomato chutney set it to cool.
• Peeled the arbi and marinate it in the tamarind-chili powder -salt mix
• Chopped onions and tomatoes, and amaranthus greens stems (keerai thandu) for sambar.
• Placed idlis in steamer.
• Started sambar and while it was simmering
• on another burner placed tawa and placed arbi for frying.
• Ground the chutney

Had my breakfast, got ready for work and left. Before leaaving for work I threw one batch of clothes in the washer.

Yesterday was very heavy work at the office. Work was so heavy, when I surfaced for some breath it was already 11 am. So got up and took a quick walk logging about 1000 steps.
Back to work and my tummy started growling for food. Lunch time and still work continued to pour in. With upcoming 4th of July holiday and with many folks taking Monday off, I was racing against time. So had my lunch while handling work.
After food I got up and walked around the building raking up another 2000 steps.
In the afternoon I managed to get up every one hour and take a few steps.
When I left for home I had managed about 6K steps.

Evening had coffee, watched Sri Ragavendra and another program. Placed the clothes in the dryer.
Kneaded dough for chapathi and let it rest.
Did evening puja and practiced my music till about 7-ish.
Made a quick side dish for the rotis and while it was simmering made the rotis, two each.
By this time I had only about 2K steps to reach my goal.

After dinner walked and completed my 10 K steps. Folded the batch of clothes and put them away.
Had my shower and went to bed.

Today, I am yet to draw up my plan. Will do after I post this.
Have a great weekend!