Heading into the New Year, it seemed like a good time to share some of my BEST tips how to stay healthy and organized this year with tools to help plan ahead. Includes free printable menu calendar, shopping list, birthday calendar, year calendar and daily goals sheet so you can accomplish what you need!
It feels fitting on January 1st to start the new year off fresh with a clean slate and a blank canvas. That canvas being paper😊.
So tell me, are you a planner? Do you plan out life and meals at the start of each week? I am a huge planner and love my Daily Agenda Book, that I use…daily! I wrote that post a few years ago and thought I would update my free printable images, branding them with a nicer look and a new post.
Sharing all my secrets to meal planning, keeping grocery money in budget, remembering birthdays, organizing appointments and planning blog deadlines. I have a daily agenda book (aka, pretty Martha Stewart 3-ring binder) that holds all my printables to make life run smoother.
Tips, Meal Planning Tools, Daily Goal Sheets, Birthday Calendar, Year Calendar (free printables) for staying healthy and organized
Tip 1: Meal Plan
This is my number 1 tip that has helped our family stay on a food budget and eat healthy. Plus I like to see what is for dinner early in the day so that I can know if I can eat a bunch of carbs earlier, or save it at dinner😊 time.
Here’s a sneak peak into our lives and how I like to meal plan:
I like to sit down once a week and write down the meals for the week. I look around the house and figure what I can use up that is around, adding that to the meals, even if it is as simple as a Healthy Mac and Cheese dish because those pasta noodles need to be eaten.
From there I order meats from Butcher Box and pantry items from Thrive Market, which usually end up having enough items to spread throughout the rest of the month. Then I write down any items I need at the grocery store or farmers market (on my printable grocery list which I bring with me shopping) and get what I need that I don’t have on-hand.
Local store grocery shopping is done once a week, usually on Fridays. On Wednesdays I go to the farmers market when possible to get fresh organic produce because nothing compares to the flavors of seasonal, fresh and local fruits and vegetables!
Shopping on Fridays provides food for the weekend and I start meal prepping on Saturday or Sunday.
I promise you this type of planning has saved me so much money at the grocery store. Along with being able to reuse leftovers efficiently in a creative way…
Most people do not like leftovers, but I think if you can get creative with them, then one dish can turn into a whole different and amazing meal! For example, we make this vegetarian Tex-Mex Quinoa and leftovers we add to burritos with cheese or over nachos! Sheet Pan Chicken… double it up and have extra chicken to add to pizza, pasta dishes, tacos and salads! And this Creamy Vegetarian Taco Chili recipe we eat as soup one night and the leftovers put on nachos or golden baked potatoes.
How do I meal prep?
I make (in advance for the week) muffins, pancakes, snacks, and meals (like quiche) that can easily be reheated throughout the week. I also like to chop onions, peppers, carrots and celery and any other vegetables that I will use throughout the week for meals and snacking ahead of time. Along with vegetables I cook quinoa and rice, and make marinades and dressing that can be easily added to dishes on our “menu”.
All of this meal prep does not happen every week, so don’t feel overwhelmed, do what you can. But when I do get it done, it is a lifesaver! It saves so much time when your rushed to get food on the table! Plus, you’re not anxious about what to make and not having things on-hand or it taking too long to prepare. Healthy snacks are right there, ready, healthy and convenient!
Tip 2: Have A Calendar
This is my other favorite tip that not only saves time, but decreases stress. Whether it is one on the wall, one of your phone or a printed version, use it and abuse it!
I am a bit old school and prefer to write everything down rather than put it in my phone. I religiously leave my binder open all day with My Goals for the Day, Weekly Meal Plan, Calendar and Birthday Calendar.
My calendar tells me my life, my story and how to make it flow. It will do the same for you if you keep up with it. Having a calendar helps to visually see what is ahead which decrease stress from the unknown.
As a blogger, my calendar is also very helpful to mark sponsored post deadlines and recipe posts so every goal is met.
Tip 3: Remember The Special People In Your Life With A Birthday Calendar
I first came upon a birthday calendar from The Project Girl who has tons of great printables. Such a great idea! I love having it in my Daily Agenda Binder because you can write down everyone’s birthday there and transfer it to the calendar each year. Then you don’t forget!
Tip 4: Set High Goals (and write them down!!!)
I am a strong believer in writing things down. Every New Years Eve my hubby and I write down what we want to accomplish in the New Year. We set our yearly goals then write down the steps in our Daily Goals page.
If you want to get fit, eat healthier, be happier, travel more or get your spending budget on track (you can get great online deals from websites such as Amazon Pantry and DontPayFull to help save money) - whatever it is, write down each day your steps and plan to get there. With clear focus and action you will get there. Writing it down helps to narrow down those actions. Little steps lead to big results.
Some days my daily goal is just to get the laundry folded. But boy do I feel powerful seeing it checked off or a line through that I did it!
GET ALL FOUR FREE PRINTABLES Here!
(Yearly Calendar Will Be Updated For The Current Year- so Pin This!)
Happy New Year and I hope you enjoy these free printables as I do. Your meals will be easier, you will save time by having a plan, food won’t be wasted as much, goals will be met (even if it is just getting the laundry folded!) and you might find you have more time in your day!