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October 01, 2008

The daily grind

I've been working full time lately which is why I haven't been online so much. It's a strange world, working fulltime. I'm not sure it really suits me, but I'm adjusting rather well, and it's good to see how the other half live. And I certainly could do with the cash!

Spending so many years at home (either because of sickness or working from home) means lunch has become our main meal of the day. I don't feel satisfied if I just have a sandwich or something cold or leftovers. I need a round, fresh meal to get me through my working day.Of course this takes a bit of effort.

Our favourite lunches use only one pot to cook. For example we cook rice and vegetables together with ghee and spices, then mix in almonds or ricotta at the end. Vegetables in coconut milk is another favourite, which we eat with bean thread noodles, which just require a soak in boiling water. Or soup, whatever vegies we have in the house boiled with spices and pureed.

I'm keeping up strong routines, I wake up at 6am every day, wash and dress and meditate for an hour from 6.30 to 7.30. Then it's time to cook breakfast and lunch. I always have porridge with milk and black sesame for breakfast, but we have something different for lunch each day, with my husband and I taking turns to cook. A relaxed breakfast to catch up and express our thanks and wishes from 8 till 8.30, and then I walk to work to start at 9am.

It requires some effort at the other end of the day. Every night I soak oats and wash and chop vegetables for the next days lunch. On Sundays we do some of our weekly sadhana's, like grinding seeds, roasting almonds, baking biscuits or making ghee.

This routine keeps me sane and healthy and grounded in a more hectic schedule. Rather than feeling tied down, I feel like these habits mean I get a lot done without really having to think about it.

6 comments:

TNL said...

I loved reading about your daily routine.Its so interesting!
Even though my own routine seems mundane to me, I feel that I need it...yes, it keeps me focused. lately, I have added drinking rooibos tea to my evening routine, and it has helped me calm down so much!

Julia said...

I know a lot of people who swear by rooibos, I've never really drank it often myself. I drink a lot of dandelion tea for the sake of my poor liver, but I might give rooibos another go.

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Have been reading your blog for a while, first time commenting though..very very interesting and informative! Wow that is some routine you have there. But I am curious about milk and seasame seeds? If you dont mind can you please post on it? Thanks!

- Anu

Julia said...

Hi Anu, lovely to hear from you. I am Vata so these foods are good as part of my daily diet.

Search my blog for a post called black sesame and posts called anemia 1 and anemia 2 for more about black sesame. Just to let you know my anemia is vastly improved!

Search also for a post simply called milk for the modern milk dilemma's.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Julia - just read through the posts. Also wanted to ask you about the bathing rituals, I am of Indian origin and living in the USA. I am trying to read up on Ayurveda and incorporate them in my daily life here with all the 'modern restrictions' eg: using tumeric, I would love to do it but all the baths here have white tiles and ofcourse I do yellow a bit.. This blog has been insipring in many ways eg: I started doing abhyanga atleast once a week or biweekly and wash off with flour (I have a question here too, I do feel my skin dries a lot when I use flour, any ideas?). Any tips/ideas from you would be great! Keep up the good work!

-Anu

Julia said...

Hi Anu, I'm enjoying your comments and questions, because I'm a bit slack about posting at the moment! Thanks for keeping me involved.

As for the flour, I'm not sure what kind of flour you mean. Besan flour is commonly used but mung flour might be less drying. Don't use too hot water or this will dry your skin out too.

As for the turmeric, I don't use it either, it just isn't convenient, and my relatively light complexion turns jaundiced looking!

You've inspired me to srite a bit about Abhayanga...