12 Productivity Tips for Homeschooling Moms
Parents are often looking for ways to be more productive throughout their day, but homeschool moms especially can feel the need to learn some productivity tips to get more done. Because, when you homeschool you have many balls in the air you are trying to catch, am I right?
The evenings where I live are getting cooler, and that means that summer is slowly coming to an end (or quickly, depending on who you ask – my kids would disagree that summer is ending slowly!)
So, I’ve got school on the brain these days as I try to get myself organized for the upcoming school year.
This year will mark year 14 for me as a homeschool mom. That’s quite something for me because before I had kids, and even in those first few years as a parent I swore I would “never homeschool.”
Yeah, go ahead and laugh. I imagine God’s laughing at me too.
One year of homeschooling turned into two, and then three, and then so on until now – 14 years later. My daughter, who I started homeschooling at age 4 is now in her last year of high school.
Over the years I’ve learned a lot of what works and what doesn’t. Not only do I homeschool, but I also work from home here on this blog. On top of that I try to squeeze in activities like music lessons for the kids, exercise for myself, canning and preserving food, and more.
Needless to say, productivity is super important to me. It’s always frustrating when I feel like I’m lacking in that area.
However, I want to encourage you, if you feel that you are lacking in that area, I’m not sure there are any of us who can say we don’t go through seasons where we feel we aren’t as productive as we want to be.
Last year as I was facing some challenges in my life I struggled with productivity. Now that I’m out on the other side I’m ready to hit the ground running. However, I needed to give myself some grace as I allowed my body to recover from the stress of the previous year. You may be in that boat as well.
When it comes to what productivity tips will work for you and what won’t as a homeschool parent, it’ll also depend on what season you are in, how many kids you have, and what ages they are. For me I have three kids, 12, 15, and 17. We no longer deal with nap times or young kids who require constant attention.
But I have a friend who has 7 kids from ages 2-19 and it’s going to be more of a challenge for her to fit in some things in her day than it will be for me. So keep that in mind as you decide what works for you. Everyone’s life is very different and you don’t want to compare because what works for someone right now won’t necessarily work for you today.
12 PRODUCTIVITY TIPS FOR HOMESCHOOL MOMS
1. Embrace a Flexible Routine
While routines are essential, rigidity can be a recipe for stress. Design a flexible schedule that allows for adjustments when life happens. Start with a general outline of your day, including dedicated times for lessons, meals, and breaks.
Remember, flexibility is one of the main benefits of homeschooling—if something doesn’t go as planned, simply adapt and move forward. When it comes to homeschooling you are NOT behind.
2. Set Clear Priorities
Identify your top priorities each week. What are the must-do tasks that will keep your homeschool running smoothly? Whether it’s finishing a specific curriculum chapter or organizing a field trip, having clear priorities helps you focus your energy on what truly matters.
For our house, math and English are must-dos most days. Another priority is music lesson practice daily.
I strongly believe if kids learn to read well and do math well, they can figure out everything else as time goes on. My theory has always been that if kids can read well they can teach themselves ANYTHING as they go through life, and so for our family that was a priority.
3. Create a Homeschool Command Center
Designate a specific space in your home as your homeschool command center. It doesn’t have to be elaborate—just a spot where you keep all your teaching materials, lesson plans, and important documents.
This central hub will save you time and frustration when you need to locate supplies or reference notes. Give each kid a basket with their name on them for their individual school books and supplies.
4. Incorporate Time Blocks
Break your day into time blocks dedicated to different tasks. For example, set aside a block for homeschooling, another for household chores, and one for self-care (which could be as little as a 15 minute coffee break). Using a timer can help you stay on track and prevent any one task from taking over your day.
5. Foster Independence
Encourage your children to take ownership of their learning. Provide them with the tools and resources they need, and then allow them some autonomy. This not only helps them develop valuable skills but also frees up some of your time for other important tasks.
How much time you can allow independent learning will depend on your child, but even a 6 year old can spend 10 minutes doing a task on their own.
6. Use Technology Wisely
There are countless educational tools and apps designed to make homeschooling easier. Find ones that complement your curriculum and help simplify your teaching process. Just be sure to set boundaries on screen time to maintain a healthy balance.
For our house we use Teaching Textbooks for our math program which is online and it has been a LIFE SAVER for me. It’s our favorite math curriculum and it allows me to be fairly hands off for the most part.
7. Plan Weekly Meal Prep
Simplify your meal planning by dedicating a day to prepare meals for the week. Batch cooking and meal prepping can save you hours during the week and make mealtimes less stressful.
Plus, it frees up more of your energy for teaching and family time. Even if you can’t do meal prep, you can write out a meal plan for the week or even for the month so you know what you are cooking each day because there’s nothing more stressful than 4:00 rolling around and you still don’t know what you are cooking that night for supper.
8. Build in Breaks for Yourself
Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Schedule regular breaks throughout your day to recharge.
Whether it’s a quiet cup of tea or coffee, a walk around the block, or a few minutes in the fresh air on your back porch, taking care of yourself helps you stay refreshed and better equipped to manage your homeschool responsibilities.
More importantly, it helps us as moms stay calm with our kids when we feel overwhelmed.
9. Have older kids help with some tasks for the younger ones
This tip always seems to be controversial. I’m not suggesting your older kids are parenting or taking over your job. What I am suggesting is that your older kids are helping with younger ones at times. My oldest child would help my youngest one with math.
I see this as being no different than when I was a “peer tutor” in high school and I earned a credit for it. For my daughter, I incorporate her peer tutoring of her brother into one of her subjects so she earns towards a credit as well.
10. Bring school books on the go
Once a week my kids have music lessons an hour away. There’s lots of waiting in between and so I have them bring some school books that they are required to work on while their waiting for their siblings to be done their lessons.
If there are things you can do in the vehicle while on the go in regards to school work, take advantage of that.
11. Connect with Other Homeschool Moms
Join a homeschool group or online community where you can share ideas, resources, and encouragement. Connecting with others who understand your journey can provide invaluable support and inspiration. How does this help you with productivity? Well, you can always glean new ideas of how to do things from other moms who are in the trenches as well.
12. Reflect and Adjust
At the end of each week, take a moment to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. Adjust your strategies as needed and celebrate your successes. Reflection helps you continually refine your approach and stay motivated.
You CAN homeschool AND be productive at the same time
Balancing homeschooling with daily life is no small feat, but with these tips, you can create a more organized and enjoyable experience for both you and your children. Remember, a little planning can make a big difference in your productivity levels at home.
You may need to find out what works best for you and your family with a bit of trial and error. Don’t be surprised if it takes you time to get into a routine that is the right fit.
