Prioritizing your life- simple easy ways to slow down and enjoy

Tips for reflection and simplifying your life – create some healthy traditions!

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.  ~Lao Tzu

Get up fifteen minutes earlier and go outside each morning. There is nothing more peaceful than the quiet of early morning. Go outside with your cup of coffee, tea, or herbal infusion and sit in quiet reflection. Think about your day and connect with nature as you listen to the wind, birds, insects, and the sounds of morning. Concentrate on your breathing and do some breathing exercises to help you feel energized and ready to tackle the day. Reserve that special time for yourself each morning and start the day off right.

 Our Family Tradition of Daily Walks…

* If going outside alone every morning seems impossible because you have little ones, take out the stroller. I have a double stroller that I have a rain cover for. We go out rain, shine, wind or snow. We have been able to connect with all of our neighbors this way, they can hardly believe we walk EVERY day so it inspires conversation- and other days barter and trade. My kids have been known to be seen walking back home (stroller full of produce) with a cucumber under each arm after we shared some of our heirloom seeds with our neighbors.  You would be surprised how much wildlife we have here to spite that we live in a suburban neighborhood. We also enjoy watching the domestic animals and their habits- one day we were even stopped by a chicken on the sidewalk! The kids and I also discuss the weather and the seasons year round and when they are in the mood to be silent (which happens at least once during our hour walk)- mama can use this walking time for reconnecting! Other benefits of this include fresh air and exercise- if mama gets cabin fever symptoms (cranky and short) we get outside immediately – even if the weather is bad it is always an adventure … and we feel revived when we return! The great thing about this tradition is the kids now hold mama accountable- what a great way to stick to an exercise routine!

“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” ~ Harriet Van Horne

Experience the joys of slow cooking. In this fast paced world it seems everyone touts the benefits of fast food but a new revolution has begin called the slow food movement. It is of course a more healthy way to eat but the real benefit is that you can get back to basics and cook the foods your mother and grandmother may have made and make meal times special in your house again. Create a meal plan each week and though you may spend more time cooking and a bit more money on quality ingredients, you and your family will relish the experience and time together.

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.” Julia Child
Have a dinner party. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just make one or two special dishes and have guests mix their own drinks. Sit outside and talk with adults while the kids play. Perhaps you can trade dinner party nights with other families so that at east once a month you have something special and memorable to do.

Artists usually don’t make all that much money, and they often keep their artistic hobby despite the money rather than due to it. -Linus Torvalds

Get a hobby! Start a sewing project or two, take up knitting or crochet, take your camera on a nature walk several times a week, start a scrapbook. Instead of spending time in front of the TV, which will never be very memorable, use some of your free time to create something meaningful. You can even get a head start on a homemade Christmas gift list. Your parents would love to have a scrapbook of the grandkids and your best friend might like a hand knit scarf.

A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend.  ~Author Unknown

Start a book club. Gather together with some female friends and choose a book to read over a few weeks time. Get together once a week to discuss the pre-assigned chapters and bring finger foods. This gives you an excuse to get together regularly and you get some reading time too. The laughs and great conversations will be treasured memories for years to come.

“Cleaning house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing” Phylis Diller

Start a babysitting co-op for date nights. Most married couples who have small children will tell you they don’t get out alone together much. Do something about that! Get together with 2-3 other couples and make a plan. Perhaps on every third weekend, two of the couples will go out while the remaining couple watches all the kids. Trade off so that each couple gets a regular date night.

With a little planning you can slow the pace of life and find time for the things that mean the most to you.

Related articles

• Slow-Cooker Recipes: Healthy Eating Made Easy (everydayhealth.com)
• Slowing Down Christmas (wrightmatthew.wordpress.com)

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