Easy Weeknight Favorites
I don’t know about you guys, but I am the queen of over-scheduling myself. I have a hard time saying no to any and every good thing and as a result, I often find myself stretched way too thin. I will be flying from one event or activity to the next, leaving one early just to get to the next late, trying to be everything to everyone and in the end, failing to stop and savor each moment.
This year I am slowly learning it is ok to say no. Even though all the things I used to say yes to are wonderful and often extremely beneficial, at the end of the day it is not worth it if I am running on fumes with little to no connection with the people I love the most. I am absolutely in the midst of learning this lesson and I really, (really, really, really to nth degree,) have the hardest time saying no. It’s so bad, y’all. My husband will tell you, even in the midst of trying to say no, I still somehow fill every corner of the calendar with something to do or accomplish. I am completely and totally a work in progress.
There are a few things I have learned that have helped me to take baby steps in the direction of savoring every moment. Here are a few:
Time: I am always overly optimistic with the amount of time it will take me to accomplish something. This is why I often find myself flying from event to event. I never seem to accurately predict traffic, try as hard as I may. I also never correctly plan for the amount of time it will take me to say goodbye to friends or colleagues or to navigate out of parking garages, etc. Having realized this, I now try to add at least half an hour to the amount of time I am predicting for any of the above situations. Possibly more as needed. I can then be slightly more realistic about what I can and cannot do and evaluate if I should even commit to the second event in question. If there is a risk of arriving frantic and out of breath, it is better to be upfront about that with the people I would be meeting. I’m realizing I am no help to anyone if I arrive flustered and anxious.
Priorities: This may seem like a basic, but I am realizing I have a very skewed idea of priorities when it comes to time management and commitments. I am a Helper by nature and if there is anyone who remotely seems like they would appreciate my attendance to said event or they maybe need help with XYZ, I have a hard time not going, just in case they do need something. To the point, that I prioritize anyone who needs anything over myself or my family. And that is a big thing that I have learned over the past year - it is ok to make myself a priority. It still makes me cringe slightly to write it as it sounds so selfish but it is true. And on top of that, it is generally better for my loved ones around me if I do prioritize time for myself as I will be a heck of a lot more pleasant and enjoyable to be around. Past that, my husband should always be my next priority. Even if it is just setting aside time to simply be in the same room together at the end of the day, it is worthwhile. And no one else should ever get in the way of that. He is my partner and my best friend, done. It sounds so basic and easy but you have no idea how often I let other people become my priority. People who I may or may not have in my life a year from now. Because I so enjoy being helpful, I have mistaken helpfulness for meaningful relationships and I have often tossed aside the people I love most, namely my husband. It sounds so terrible to say it out loud but goodness it is true. No more!
Planning: I get an absolutely thrill from a well made list and I love to plan. I think this is often how my calendar gets filled up so quickly. I really love it and I believe that is why I gravitated towards Events in the first place. But on the flipside, planning accurately and honestly has helped me so much to schedule less for myself. By keeping in mind my true priorities and a (slightly) more accurate idea of the time it will take me, it has helped me so much to accurately plan for the week ahead.
Which brings me to the theme for this month - Easy Weeknight Favorites. Especially during busy weeks, I found it helped me so much to have a set plan for our meals in advance. I have a few favorites we love and I try to always have those ingredients in my freezer or pantry so I can throw together a delicious meal quickly and easily. This way it is so much easier to avoid any stops for fast food on the way home from work. Otherwise, without a plan in place, fast food would often win and I felt sluggish and awful all the time. I found if I knew I had a meal in the crockpot at home waiting for me, I could look past all the temptation on the way home and stick to a plan.
I love any slow cooker recipe but the go-to I reach for the most often on crazy days would be chicken tacos, and I doesn’t get much simpler or easier than this. I don’t know if it even really counts as cooking. I stole this recipe from a co-worker years ago, and it has yet to fail me.
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
Ingredients:
3-4 Large Frozen Chicken Breasts
1 20 oz jar of Mild Salsa
1 Taco seasoning packet (you can also make your own, here is the recipe I found that I love!)
Taco fixings such as Taco Shells, Tortillas, Diced Tomatoes, Chopped Onions, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheese, etc.
Directions:
Place frozen chicken breasts in the slow cooker, cover with the taco seasoning on all sides of chicken breasts.
Pour jar of salsa over chicken, making sure chicken is completely covered.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Shred chicken buy pulling apart, stir with the salsa for even consistency.
Serve in shells or tortillas, add preferred toppings.
That is literally it! Again, I don’t know if this counts as cooking but it has saved me many times. This makes a good amount for 2 hearty meals for the two of us, increase ingredients as needed. We love the leftovers with taco salad, quesadillas, really anything.
What are your favorite go-tos? Is there one meal you can’t go without? What are the ingredients you always have in your fridge or pantry for a quick meal?
As always, submit your favorites through our Contact Us Page or post directly to our community page. Comment below if you try the tacos or if you have any other tips or lessons you have learned for time management and prioritization!