If you’re looking for some simple sanity savers, you’ve come to the right place. Homeschooling parents are often under a different type of stress and it’s important to find a good balance.
Welcome to the world of homeschooling! If you’re new to it, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Homeschooling comes with the pressure and responsibility of making sure you do it right. There will always be things that you never knew you needed to know until a situation comes up. Then you’ll wish you had known them sooner. No matter how much you plan and prepare, something will always surprise you.
Your biggest surprise about it all is the amount of time it takes to homeschool your child and how it distracts you from other important things like cleaning, laundry, shopping, and cooking. There are days when it will seem like an uphill battle to get everything done while holding on to your sanity.
Here are a few great tips to help you through the overwhelm so you can find your balance. Grab a cup of coffee and relax, you’ve got this!
Sanity Savers for New Homeschool Moms
- There’s no such thing as the “perfect” syllabus. Don’t spend too much time worrying about other options. Just focus on what works for you and your kids.
- Take time to notice what your child enjoys most. Use that as a way to keep their attention when they don’t like a subject.
- Plan your weekly schedule and stick to it. It will make your days much easier to manage. Your schedule may need a little tweaking at first, but once you find one that works, sticking to it will help you feel less scattered.
- If your child isn’t reading on their own yet, try outsourcing “read-aloud time” with audio books. This will help you find some time to take care of your other household tasks.
- Even though they’re just getting started, create a lesson plan for your toddler or preschooler; don’t just “wing it”. It doesn’t have to be complicated. But planning out play activities and crafts will help reduce your overwhelm.
- Stop overscheduling yourself. Leave room to be flexible in your day in case something takes longer than you expected.
- You can’t function at a high level of intensity without taking some downtime. Schedule quiet time for your kids so you can have some for yourself. Even if they don’t nap, quiet reading or play time will help you maintain your sanity and reduce stress.
- Take time to replenish your energy when you need to. Go for a walk. Take a nap. Take a day off. Do something besides book work for a day. Know when your energy is draining and you need a break then take it. It’s the best way to have the energy to keep going.
When you’re new to homeschooling, it can take some time to find your “groove.” That’s okay. Be patient with yourself and give yourself a break. It’s the best way to help you stay on track.
Always be kind to yourself! You’re human and sometimes, life happens! Just remember that every day is a new day and you’ll have endless opportunities to get it right the next time!
