Do you feel like your homeschool is becoming too stressful? New homeschooling parents often say that teaching their kids has become the most challenging part of their day. But this doesn’t have to be the case! If you are feeling overwhelmed, these tips will help de-stress and make your homeschooling experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Do you want some tips on how to reduce homeschool stress even more? Be sure to check out 10 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy Your Homeschool, What Is Slow Education?, and Relaxed Homeschooling.
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Be patient with yourself and your child.
Homeschooling is a new experience for both of you. If it’s not going well, try something different the next day. Homeschooling doesn’t have to be stressful if you remember that relationships and home are the most critical factors. If you haven’t done so yet, consider taking some time to deschool.
Keep your goals realistic and achievable.
Make realistic goals for each day. If you are trying to accomplish too much, you will quickly become overwhelmed and stressed. Consider block scheduling and looping.
Give yourself a break – don’t try to do everything at once.
Choose one subject (math, science, history, etc.) for the day and focus on that. No rule says all subjects must be covered each and every day. You don’t need to break your back trying to do it all, and your kids will thank you for it! Plus, deep-diving into a topic allows for more time to process the information at hand and makes learning more meaningful.
Make sure to take time every day for yourself.
This is especially important if you’re a homeschooling mom! Make sure to take some time each day for yourself – even if it’s just ten minutes. Use this time to exercise, relax, read, or do something you enjoy. Stressing out over homeschooling won’t help anyone, so make sure to take some time for yourself every day!
De-stress with aromatherapy.
Break out those essential oils you’ve been hoarding! The smell of essential oils can help to reduce stress and make you feel more relaxed. I either wear Young Living’s Peace & Calming or Stress Away as my “perfume,” while my kids like to create their own blends to diffuse when working on their independent work.
Turn on some music.
Music can instantly change our mood, so why not try listening to some music while you’re homeschooling? I like putting on classical music or jazz when we’re writing or working on art, while my eldest son puts his earbuds on and listens to his preferred tunes.
Write down your feelings.
There’s nothing like getting everything off of your chest! Storing up all those negative emotions inside will only make you feel worse. Take a few minutes each day and write about how you are feeling, and have your child journal in their own notebooks as well – it could be very therapeutic for both of you!
Be flexible.
Remember that it’s okay if things don’t go as planned sometimes. Be flexible and be willing to try new things. If your child isn’t interested in the subject you planned on teaching them, switch it up! There’s no need to stress over homeschooling if you can be flexible.
Move at your child’s pace.
Remember, this is their education, not yours. Most of us choose to homeschool our kids to give them an individualized education, but we often lose sight of that fact when we’re deep in the trenches of homeschooling. There’s no need to rush your child to complete an assignment to stay on schedule. Follow your child’s lead; you’ll know when they’re ready to move on.
Get outside for fresh air and exercise.
Get outside every day with your kids. Schedule it in if you need to keep yourself accountable. Take a walk around the neighborhood, visit a park, go on a hike, or stroll along the shore. Being outdoors has repeatedly been shown in studies as having powerful effects on reducing stress.
Read aloud.
Reading aloud can be very therapeutic for both yourself and your kids. Just keep your expectations realistic and know that your kids won’t be sitting quietly just listening to your voice. Offer them quiet activities such as coloring, knitting, or doodling while you read.
Have fun while learning.
Consider introducing board games and puzzles into your homeschool. These can be a fun way to review concepts you have learned, and they’re a great break from the usual schoolwork.
Avoid social media.
Often our stress comes from feeling like our homeschool is not up to par with others. If you have any inclination toward this, then it’s probably time to step back from social media for a bit. Comparison is the thief of joy, and it will only steal your happiness when it comes to homeschooling. So take a break, read a good book, go for a walk outside or relax! You don’t have to be perfect, and that’s okay!.
Make sure to take breaks!
Get some rest – if you’re tired, chances are so are your kids. Put your homeschooling materials away and take the hour, day, week, or month off! We homeschool year-round, and I find that after every 4-6 weeks of schooling, we need a couple of weeks off to relax and refocus.
Final Thoughts
Take a deep breath – you got this! Homeschooling can be an extremely enriching experience if you allow yourself to relax and enjoy it. I hope these tips will help you de-stress and have a more enjoyable homeschooling experience.
Do you have any other tips to add? Share them in the comments below!
Xuan Klevecka is a Southern California-based homeschool mom, wife, and sometimes purveyor of vintage goods. She’s an Enneagram 5w4, a lover of good food, and a former middle school history teacher. You’ll either find her looking at road maps and daydreaming about her family’s next epic adventure or perusing recipes and cooking up a feast for the brood.
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