Preparing to Return to "Normal"

This is it. Today is the last day of my winter break. I return to work and my children return to school tomorrow. Yesterday (Jan 1) was a lazy day. I worked on my scrapbooks, did one load of laundry (see Managing Laundry) planned the meals (see meal planning) for this coming week, and read. How am I going to get my family ready for the coming week and still enjoy my last day of break? A little planning and a little letting go (see Keeping Routines During Non-Routine Times) are my strategies.

Planning:

• As I have planned, the holiday leftovers are gone from the house and we are returning to more healthy eating starting today. All of our bodies will be thankful for that. I have even planned what I will eat for my 3 meals and snacks today.
• I have a plan for the 3 meals I plan to cook today that we will eat next week (see Meal Planning). It is just past 8:00 a.m. and I have already cooked the first meal for next week (chili made with veggies and turkey). I used the food processor (new gift) and had it on the stove while the coffee was brewing. 
• I have written down what each person in my family needs to accomplish today. For me, it includes exercising , scrapbooking and reading along with the chores that need to get done (see Planning your Free Time). 
• We are all going to take time today to make a plan for next week. This will help us return to our routines and not be stressed out.

Letting Go:

• The Christmas tree is still up and the living room is still decorated. That is just going to have to be OK. We have agreed to take it down next weekend when we will have more time.
• I do not plan to do any house cleaning today. The house was just cleaned the other day for an event we hosted, and is in good enough shape to get us into the week. 
• I had hoped to spend time cleaning out my bedroom this break, but I did not get to finish that project. I will work it into my future plans instead of spending today getting my room finished.
• I will only do one load of laundry today. My laundry system only requires that I wash one load per day. It is tempting to wash an extra load, but that would keep me from getting to the other things on my list.  

Wish me luck! I am finished with my morning coffee now (a routine I can never let go) and I am going to exercise. I know what I plan to accomplish today and I hope I get to everything on my list. Are you using planning to get things accomplished? Tell us about your ideas, successes and/or challenges in the comment area below.