Gearing up for Time Schedule Changes

Soon the time zone will "fall back" and we will find the days growing shorter and nights longer. For many of us, that small change makes us feel both energized and uneasy. People like routine and a sense of predictability. We have less anxiety and stress when we can get a sneak peek of what comes next. An extra hour in the day, even though a gift of time, can disturb our sleep patterns and rattle our routines.

The change of seasons presents opportunities for our personal schedules to change as well. Winter means preparing for cold and harsh weather conditions.  Spring may mean adding more outdoor chores to our to-do lists. Summer brings vacations and other events to add to our schedules. Transitioning from summer to autumn is no different, especially if you have children that you have sent back to school. Fall is an especially good time to re-evaluate those schedules and our time management techniques.

How can we organize our time so we can reduce stress and feel more in control?  Here are a few ideas to try:

• Keep a calendar of your family’s events. If you carry a smartphone, try an online calendar. An online calendar can be shared with your family so everyone can get alerts at the same time. If you use a paper calendar, keep it in a place where everyone in your family can view it easily.  Keep a small tablet near the calendar so you or your family can write down their reminders for the day to stay on track.
• Plan meals ahead of time. (Experience has taught me to start by planning for one week at a time.  Maybe in a couple of months, I will be able to plan for a whole month at a time, but I’m taking baby steps.)  Pick the days of the week that you plan to cook a full dinner. Choose a meal for each day. Make sure you have all the ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator and start a grocery list for items you don't have.  Let your family know the meal plan by posting each night’s dinner on a chalkboard or on your family calendar. Use recipes that you know how to cook, your family likes, and for which you know the prep time.  Some people have great success by meal prepping over the weekend for the upcoming week. (Check out the easy recipe below that you can prepare ahead of time, and heat and serve on a busy weeknight.)
• Create a to-do list.  Write down what needs to be done each day.  Tasks such as picking up prescriptions, making an eye doctor appointment, going grocery shopping, taking the dog to the groomer. . . everything takes time. Try to combine tasks such as picking up the grandkids at soccer practice and stopping for the prescriptions on the way home. Maybe divide the work with other members of the family, such as while you are mowing the yard, another family member empties the dishwasher.  Celebrate the accomplishment of marking items off of the to-do list as they are accomplished.
• Stick to a consistent bedtime and wake-up time.  Set an alarm to begin a routine to get ready for bed just like you do for waking up each day.  Creating time to wind down your mind and body could help you rest more efficiently each night. Use this time to read to your children, set out needed items for the morning, read a good book, or meditate. This will set the tone to get some rest and recharge. Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others.
• Stay the course. Creating new habits can take weeks.  If you have the best intentions to use your meal planning chart every night this week, but you are just too tired to cook and you end up ordering take-out, try again tomorrow. Be patient with yourself if you can’t be as efficient with your time as you had planned.
• Take time for fun. When you have an opportunity—planned or unplanned—to have a bit of fun, take it. We can plan for vacations, events, and parties. But if you get the chance to fly a kite with your child, take a walk with your spouse, or enjoy a sunset, do it. There is nothing better than an impromptu lunch with a friend or a trip to the flower shop to uplift our spirits.

Whether it is with a change in time zones or seasons, these transitions present us with great opportunities to reset our sails, adjust our schedules, or create new routines. Being flexible and open to new ways of doing things keeps us fresh and energized all year long.

Recipe: Flank Steak Sheet Pan Dinner

6 servings | serving size: ⅙ of recipe

When preparing this recipe, start with clean countertops and utensils. Wash hands with soap and water. Wash whole, fresh garlic, lime, tomatoes, and shallots by gently rubbing under cold, running water. Prewashed, packaged items do not require further washing. Do not rinse raw meat.

Ingredients

• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1½ pounds flank steak
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
• 1 pound cherry tomatoes
• 3 shallots, sliced
• 6 warm whole wheat tortillas, for serving

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Arrange rack in upper third of the oven.
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place flank steak on the baking sheet. Rewash hands with soap and water.
3. Combine garlic, lime juice, olive oil, paprika, cumin, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour marinade over steak and rub onto both sides. Rewash hands with soap and water. Do not reuse marinades.
4. Spread cherry tomatoes and shallots over the top of the steak and season with pepper.
5. Roast in oven about 15 minutes, until the internal temperature of the beef reaches 145°F on a food thermometer.  Let rest for about 10 minutes after removal from the oven, then slice and serve with tomatoes, shallots, and tortillas.

Recipe adapted from Partnership for Food Safety Education:  Flank Steak Sheet Pan Dinner