Time Saving Thursday anyone?

21^st November 2013

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. Paul Valery

Yesterday was a really busy day, inbetween working as I normally do on a Wednesday I took my brother and his wife shopping and we all sat down and enjoyed Goulash for dinner with mash and broccoli, that went down a treat even mom enjoyed it; 

If I cooked it again http://www.hairybikers.com/recipes/beef-goulash/1696 I think I’d put less water in because it was a little runny for my liking even after adding a spoon of cornflour, very tasty though.

I’m so glad I cooked those meals ready on Monday before my visitors arrived.  Last night I was talking to a lady at my meeting, who’s just been so busy the last few weeks with working overtime and other stuff, she’s just about managed to maintain her weight because thinking about meal times has been the last thing on her mind.  I think you’ll agree sometimes life doesn’t make weight loss easy for so many reasons including being too busy, socialising loads, stress, family problems – oh the list goes on doesn’t it.  

And as if the universe is trying to show me just how quick one of those situations can throw off your day, my computer has just decide to start playing up and it’s took about 20 minutes out of my morning to reboot and clear cookies etc!  Gotta love the sarcasm of the universe. 

Did I just sit gazing at my screen whilst all this went on?  No, I used the time to go downstairs make me a drink and get the lamb marinated ready for today’s dinner – time management is an essential tool for the busy bird I have to say, especially if like a lot of my members, you’re a housewife, mother and possibly carer for an older relative, most work as well – that’s a lot of stuff to get done every day, no wonder my BeYOUtiful ladies struggle with their weight.

Time management, sounds so business like but seriously can help your weight loss if you think about it, how often have you been so rushed that you just haven’t thought about your next meal time and when you suddenly realise your hungry – BOOM, too late to start to think, you’re just going to grab the nearest thing to you or get a takeaway on the way home!

·         I remember doing time management when I did my degree, and good time management doesn't mean you do more work. It means you focus on the tasks that matter and will make a difference.

I remember lines such as;

• Make a to-do list - write things down.
• Work smarter, not harder, good time management means doing high-quality work, not high quantity. Spending more time on something doesn’t necessarily achieve more!
• Take a break - A break is an opportunity to relax and think of something other than what needs to be done that day.  You’ll return to your day refreshed & re-energised.
• Prioritise important tasks - Tasks can be grouped in four categories: - - urgent and important, - not urgent but important, - urgent but not important, neither urgent nor important (seriously the dusting doesn’t have to be done every week!)

Makes you sounds like a business woman doesn’t it, well seriously think about everything you to do in a day and guess what, you are CEO of your household!  You work damn hard and have so much to do, so let’s see if you can make it easier for yourself.

This week spending 3 hours in the kitchen helped me save lots of time over the last few days because I’d have had to cook on three separate occasions which would’ve added up to more than the 3 hours.  I might not always want to spend 3 hours cooking on my day off though so I find having a list written down and stuck on my fridge or on a pad in my handbag of quick meals I can throw together helps then, they might be meals I can cook in minutes or even the foods I know if I order from the takeaway they’re not going to break my ProPoints budget, or even a list of ready meals I’ve enjoyed in the past and know I can buy as I’m passing the shop on the way home really helps, it saves me time and helps my weight loss. 

Think of all the things you can cook or throw together in minutes;

• Beans / Egg on toast
• Omelette
• Fish microwaved for approx 3 minutes, served on a bed of couscous which you poured boiling water on to cook before taking the fish out the fridge, takes about 5 minutes.
• Microwave rice saves so much time, 2 minutes and I always stock up on them when they’re on offer.
• When you do cook, put the extra portions in a freezer tub for nights when you just want to eat fast.  You can’t beat a microwave ‘PING’ tea.

That’s just one thing you could do to help you make your life easier, if you think I bet you can come up with lots of other ways too.  Takeaways aren’t that quick you know by the time you’ve driven there and waited, you could’ve had a meal in the microwave – plus you’ve saved yourself money because they’re not cheap either. 

As much as I could continue giving you meals that are quick and easy, I really need to get ready for work because I’m one of those busy birds today, 5 minutes, a lamb dinner to cook for my guests, paperwork and for a change I don’t have to walk the dog because my brother will do it for me and bless my sister-in-law she hovered all through my house yesterday and all it cost me was a cooked dinner – bargain.

Have a fabulous Thursday, let’s make today “Time Saving” Thursday!

Here’s to a great one BeYOUtiful.