Seeds of Inspiration Blogs
Follow along to learn about healthy lifestyle tips and tricks, alongside delicious veggie-filled recipes, and educational greenhouse-grow facts. We’re here to inspire and help you get the most out of your Red Sun Farms purchase.
Getting Back to Routine
Those lazy, hazy days of summer have come and gone and it’s time to get back into the fall routine. Say goodbye to those sandy beach days and marshmallow campfires. For most of us, autumn means back to school and work routines. For many parents, it is the best time of the year.
While we may all miss those warm days and late nights, there is something exciting about the crisp fall air that greets us each morning and the opportunity to start with a blank page.
Routines are repetitive but they needn’t be boring. Health professionals suggest that doing the same tasks day in and day out may actually be good for us as long as we have some variety throughout our day. Consistency provides structure and is thought to be good for both our mental and physical health, especially in children.
Here are 4 ways you and your family can benefit from a routine:
1. Healthier Habits
Routines allow us to plan our day. By having a plan, we can incorporate the time to do the things that will help us lead a healthy lifestyle. Meal plans and grocery lists make us less likely to succumb to the temptation of the fast-food drive-thru because we know healthy food awaits us at home.
Oftentimes we compromise when it comes to exercise but it is also important for a healthy, well-balanced life. No need to block off hours every day or even join an expensive gym. Including exercise in our day could be as simple as putting aside 10-20 minutes for a walk or some stretching. Nowadays online options are easy and convenient.
2. Better Sleep
People sleep better when they have a routine that then alerts their bodies when it is time for shut-eye. Your body’s internal clock will know and will be ready to start
winding down. This will help eliminate those nights when you toss and turn for hours watching the clock. Needless to say, tossing and turning all night will not give you the strength and clarity to get through the following day, no matter how much coffee you drink!
3. Less Stress
Knowing what you have planned for the following day reduces the chances that you will have to deal with unexpected stress. Routines provide a road map that reduces the need to make decisions on-the-fly. Things will of course come up at the last minute, but they will be more manageable if the bulk of your decisions has already been made.
4. Increased productivity
Routine is good for productivity. Knowing in advance that some tasks are accounted for lets us focus on the big picture. The repetition of tasks can also improve our efficiency in performing these tasks so that they can be done with less effort.
Routines are beneficial for families
Research shows that routines can help kids develop proper social planning skills. Children who follow routines feel safer and more secure reducing their chances of developing behavioral disorders.
Here are some tips to help you get started with setting up your weekly routine. Each Sunday, take some time to:
- List things that need to be accomplished over the week ahead.
- Plan a weekly menu and prepare some meals. Here are some great options:
Breakfast: Make a batch of these Savory Pepper Muffins for breakfast-on-the-go, lunch box snacks or even a side dish for dinner. These can be made in advance and thrown in the freezer so they are ready whenever you need them.
Lunch: This Brown Rice Vegetable Salad will keep in the fridge for a few days and makes a hearty lunch or dinner side dish.
Dinner: This Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna can be ready when you walk in the door or these Kale and Bacon Stuffed Peppers can be on the table in 30 minutes.
- Block off time in the schedule for physical activity.
- Get the schedules of family members and incorporate them into your weekly plan. Include the kids’ extracurricular activities and medical appointments.
- Display the weekly schedule where all family members can see it.
- Cross things off the list as they are completed so your family can feel a sense of accomplishment!
- Celebrate at week’s end with a treat! Here’s a great recipe everyone will love: Brownies With Avocado Ice Cream and Berries.
Did you know the Red Sun Farms website has loads of information to help you around the kitchen and make that meal-time madness less maddening? You’ll find:
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Now that you’ve got your day in control, check out our website for lots of recipes and product information!