After hundreds of home cooked meals at this point, how does one trick themselves into cooking? Especially when they REALLY don’t want to.
The fantasized very organized version of myself cooks on a daily basis to not only save money, but ensure the quality of each ingredient used. But, I honestly didn’t think this would turn into reality so quickly, pre-COVID. I was working myself up to it with meal plans and lots of saved recipe videos I never actually went back to watch.
Nonetheless, here we are.
On many of days, I’ve dug DEEP within my bag of tried and researched mental tricks to get me through the task of cooking. And I know I’m not the only one. Apparently, cooking fatigue is a real thing and people are “suffering” from it.
So, in the spirit of sharing, here are a couple I’ve been heavily leaning on to get me through the day(s)…weeks, months, aww hell, eternity of home prepared meals at this point.
#1 Put On An Apron
It seems silly, but believe me it works.
Something about the simple act of pulling out an apron and putting it on conditions my mind for the process of cooking. And if I’m really honest about it, I actually end up enjoying the experience more when I have it on compared to not.
While I have a couple of super basic aprons, I’ve definitely looked into either purchasing or making a couple of more with a tad more flare because this hack worked so well.
Here’s a couple to consider:
For the super trendy multi-tasker $26
For The Kinda Fancy Plant Lover $17
Just Because It’s Cute
#2 Think About How Much You Would Spend If You Ordered Out
This is one I’ve been tapping into even more since we’ve become a family of 4.
As much as I absolutely love eating out to discover new tastes and cuisines, it can get pretty pricey. Especially when you get more exotic and fancy with the menu and experiences.
So, when I try to gather the willpower to NOT call one of my favorite takeout restaurants, I tap into the sticker shock I have when paying our take out bills. I try to be mindful even in those moments so I can refer back to them.
It’s a weird way of fragmenting & cataloging thoughts and memories to use for my own benefit when I need them. Not when I let them go wild and work against me spiraling down into a pit of guilt and disgust because I can’t believe I spent so much in a month when I could’ve well, not.
By flashing back to various ugly face spine shuttering moments where I reluctantly handed over my card to pay for the take out we just had to have, I somehow pull myself together enough to power through the next 30 minutes to an hour it takes to make a meal for us all.
Try doing this when you’re feeling out of it and I promise it will help get you started.
#3 Sandwiches, Spaghetti, & Oatmeal
What the what, is probably what you’re thinking.
Sandwiches, spaghetti, and oatmeal are our 3 go-to favorites when I am just sick and tired of cooking.
My kids will eat all 3 without complaint, to which I am incredibly grateful. I try to keep all the above options available in the house at all time for lunch anyway, so eating one of the other options for dinner works too.
And yes, that includes oatmeal.
If I want to get fancy with the oatmeal for the adults, I switch it up and make my Sweet Turmeric Version. But please do not sleep on the magic stress- relieving power of those good old favorites because a good sandwich, bowl of spaghetti, or oatmeal with all the toppings will hit the spot each and every time.
Do you have other mental hacks you’ve been using to help cooking ALL THE TIME less of a chore and more pleasurable? Let me know in the comments below.
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