Prepare for Self-Care

It's a new semester! Make some preparations so that it will be more convenient to take good care of yourself when you barely have time to breathe (like when midterms come around).  Here are some suggestions:

Stock your freezer with....

• Frozen vegetables (during midterms you won't have time to shop for and prepare fresh)
• Frozen multigrain waffles (a great breakfast option when you are too busy to shop; there are great frozen, even organic, multigrain waffles out there)
• Nuts (freeze these so they stay fresh)
• Ice cream (in case of emergency)

Stock your cupboard with...

• Honey (for when you come down with the inevitable cold)
• Chamomile tea (for nights when you are too anxious to sleep)
• Vitamins (a multi, plus extra C)
• Peanut butter (long-lasting, protein packed, and comforting)
• Chicken broth or vegetable broth (to make easy soups)
• Popcorn (for late-night snacks without sugar/salt/chemicals)
• Zip-lock bags (sandwich and snack sizes)
• Quick-cooking Oatmeal (go-to breakfast and cookie ingredient)
• Plastic food storage containers (salad, soup, and snack sized, plus compartmentalized)
• Dark chocolate (obviously)
• Non-stick cooking spray (for cooking eggs, cookies, or anything else)

Stock your fridge with...

• Small bottles of Champagne (you'll certainly have reasons to celebrate this semester, but don't need to drink a full-sized bottle)
• Eggs (these last a long time, so you can stock up)
• Lunches and dinners for your first week of school (make ahead on Sunday for the whole week)
• Good bread (lasts longer in the fridge)
• Miso paste (for easy soup when you run out of broth)
• Pancake syrup (for your oatmeal, quinoa, cookies, or waffles)
• Salad dressing (salads are an easy lunch or dinner option you can make ahead)

Stock your backpack/briefcase with...

• Hand sanitizer (unless you don't believe in it)
• Tissues (someone will need one, even if it isn't you)
• packs of Emergen-C (never too much vitamin C)
• Emergency snacks (crackers, nuts, breakfast bars, or dried fruit)

Update your iTunes playlist with...

• Peaceful playlists for studying/relaxing (see my page for recommendations)
• Workout playlists (to keep you motivated)
• Books from Audible.com (listen while you work out or commute)
• Yoga videos so you can practice at home (search for "yoga" in the TV Shows filter for some great options)

Stock your bedside table with...

• Lavender pillow spray (helps you calm down before sleeping)
• A bedtime book to take your mind off school before you sleep (so you don't have nightmares)

Update your apartment with....

• Candles (to create a special occasion any time or for Feng Shui purposes)
• Beautiful art (see my post "Spruce Up Your Space")
• A rack to hang up a week's worth of outfits (the Dollar Store usually has these)
• A plant (to cheer you up and create good energy)
• A yoga mat (even if you don't practice, somebody might invite you to try class with them)
• A rice cooker (nobody likes burned rice)
• A crock pot (dinner will be ready when you get home...1950's housewife not included)

Spruce Up Your Space

I wish there were so many jobs out there that I could use up an entire box of resume paper.  Instead, I'm using it to create cheap, beautiful vintage prints to decorate my office using public domain images from http://vintageprintable.com/wordpress/.  The images are free.  Just print them on thick resume paper and you'll have gorgeous wall art for your apartment.  When you move, you can take them with you in a file folder or recycle them.  Here are some of my favorites:

$25 Meal Plan

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Brown rice + 2 eggs	Oatmeal + apple	2 Eggs with broccoli Banana	Brown rice + 2 eggs	Oatmeal + apple
Salad: black beans, tomato, cheese  Oatmeal Apple	Salad: chicken, tomato, cheese Brown rice banana	Brown rice, black beans, onion, tomato, and cheese melted together in a casserole (you can do this in the microwave) Apple	Salad: lettuce, black beans, onion,  tomato, chicken   Apple	Pasta with chicken, broccoli, carrots, and onion Banana
“Brinner” scramble with 2 eggs, spinach,  broccoli, tomato, and cheese Banana	Pasta with tomato and cheese Soup made with broth, spinach, and carrots	Soup made with  broth, chicken, carrots, onion,  and pasta	Pasta with chicken, broccoli, carrots, and onion   Banana	Egg drop soup made with broth, eggs, spinach, and brown rice

Yes, you can cook your own meals all week.  Here's what you'll need:

1 large can of black beans, divided into 3 servings

1 bag of brown rice, cooked and divided into 5 servings

1 bag of frozen spinach

1 bag frozen broccoli

10 Chicken thighs, cooked, cut up,  and divided into 5 containers

1 dozen eggs

1 box of your favorite pasta, cooked and divided into 5 containers

A bag shredded cheese

1 carton of quick-cooking oatmeal

1 carton of chicken broth

3 heads of Romaine lettuce

6 tomatoes

5 apples

1 large onion, chopped and cooked

5 bananas

1 bag whole fresh carrots, chopped, cooked, and divided into 5 containers

Mindful Eating

Thanks to our UNH School of Law Communications Office for sending along this New York Times article about mindful eating!  Doing this once a week sounds totally manageable. 

New York Times: Mindful Eating as Food for Thought

Peaceful Playlist: February

Some tunes to try when you need to chill out:

Piece for Solo Flute:  Dead Can Dance
Theme from Harry's Game: Clannad
New Orleans Instrumental No. 1: R.E.M.
Is This Love: Bob Marley
Bleeker Street: Simon  & Garfunkel
One of These Things First: Nick Drake
Wash Away: Joe Purdy
We Are All Made of Stars: Moby
Quelqu'un m'a dit: Carla Bruni
Lay It Down: Al Green