Happy first OCM Motivated Monday! I am usually a daily meal planner and plan as I go mama, but decided to kick off this year with a weekly meal planning goal. Here’s to reducing the mental load of planning day to day. Although this task takes some time upfront, it saves time and potential stress during the work week. It’s one small act of self care that every mom deserves.

This doesn’t have to be an exclusive mom task. Making it inclusive and getting the family involved in planning the meals can bring a sense of accomplishment and simplify meals for everyone.

Instead of asking “what do you want to eat,” and receiving the response, “I don’t care,” inclusive meal planning helps everyone to develop a sense of ownership in the process. After all, as the only woman on the team and advocate for equity for women in the workplace which cannot be achieved without male allies, it’s important to me to instill in my sons that our roles in the home are not gender based. They certainly have a great example in their dad who is hands on checking off the list from childcare, laundry to household upkeep (a way to this woman’s heart).

Exemplifying that we all participate in household chores to ensure work-home life success builds life skills and core values for my sons to achieve their own successes throughout their life. As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work. Here’s a peek at the week ahead.