How to Work and Homeschool
We all know, all moms juggle a LOT!
Homeschool moms, working moms and those moms out there that do both, work and homeschool. It may seem SO impossible to be able to do both, and do them well, but it can be done!
I have figured out how to balance both working and homeschool for a few years now.
I also know plenty of other working mom homeschool families, so I decided to put together my top tips for learning just how to work and homeschool. Without wanting to crawl under the covers and hide ha!
If you’re a newbie just getting started with homeschooling, or maybe have a few years of homeschool under your belt but are adding in a working role for yourself, this article will have all the encouragement and ideas you need to get going!
Increase in work at home
With the state of the world since a few years ago (looking at you 2020!) and the general ease of working from home, more and more parents are doing just that.
Whether you’re self-employed or working for a corporation/organization the ability to do so has never been more convenient.
Some jobs, even from home, have a strict schedule as far as working hours are handled, and that can make working and homeschooling seem completely unmanageable. It’s hard, but like anything else parenting-wise, once you find your groove or routine, you can and will be able to do it.
Flex hours or self-employment seem like the best, easiest fit to add into your already full homeschool schedule, and that can be true. It can also make you feel more scattered though, so it’s key to again find a routine that works best for you.
I’ll go into this more below ☺
Homeschool on the rise
Again, with the state of the world, homeschool has been on the rise in recent years. More and more parents are realizing that they want to be the ones making the decisions on what and how their kids are learning.
More and more families are striving to find a better balance for themselves, and wanting to spend more family time together.
Families are also embracing the idea of roadschooling, and the flexibility of homeschool and working remotely is making this trend/dream a reality for many.
Whatever the reason, there are simply more families homeschooling and many of those families need or would like more income, and need to find a way to balance both work and homeschool.
Read below to see how!
It can be done – homeschool AND work!
Balancing work and homeschool is very personal, every situation is different for every family. Finding what works for you is key.
While I am a huge fan of block scheduling when it comes to homeschool planning, and I do think having a plan or schedule is important, be realistic when you’re starting out!
Sick kids, an urgent work matter or the washing machine deciding to leak when you have 100 lbs. of laundry to wash, are all things that could come up on a perfectly planned Tuesday.
Kids and life can throw you a curve ball so unexpectedly that your pretty color coded plan goes out the window!
Keeping this in mind will help you from falling into the pit of mom guilt that you aren’t living up to some unrealistic standard.
Ideas how to balance both homeschool and work
Depending on your work demands and hours needed to be “working”, your days may vary quite a bit.
I have worked while homeschooling my kids as an online tutor, as an Etsy shop owner, and as a blogger. Each of those roles required different time requirements for me, but all are fairly (except tutoring) flexible for me to fit in my day around homeschooling.
Working a job that requires an 8-5 schedule, you will obviously have a lot less flexibility with your day but absolutely can still homeschool. You may need to rely on some outside help from friends or family especially if you have little ones, but again, it can all work.
Here are some ideas to make it all work:
Make a list of priorities –
Sunday evenings I take some time to prepare for the week ahead with our homeschool. First, I gather together what we will need, print worksheets or whatever we will use. Then, I make a list in my homeschool planner of things I want to accomplish (beyond my actual lesson plans) and things I don’t want to forget to do.
I do the same thing on Monday morning for all things non-homeschool related. I’ve named it my weekly brain dump, because that’s what it feels like!
I unload everything into a small spiral notebook I use to keep my head from feeling overwhelmed. Appointments to make, reminders for birthdays & cards to buy, registration reminders for kids’ activities etc. And anything I think of throughout the week, I add to that list.
I then do the same for my work, in my work planner notebook. Write down all the little things I need to do, or may forget, if I don’t write them down.
Now, pick 3 from each list –
I started doing this a couple of years ago and it’s a GAME CHANGER! So simple, yet super effective for me.
I choose 3 things each day that I want to accomplish, from each list. You can do this first thing in the morning, or at night before bed, whatever works best for you and your mind.
I choose 3 things to do each morning, and as I do them, I cross them off. Again, simple but works for me! It’s not as much pressure as looking at the long list you may have made, thinking it all has to be done now.
Choosing the 3 most important things for each day allows you to feel in control of your schedule, and not that your schedule is controlling you.
Of course there may be a day here and there where you have to do more than the 3 you select, but realistically this will work for you if you stick to this routine.
Whatever you don’t finish each week, roll onto the next week’s list. I can honestly say, as an avid list maker & lover of making lists, this has been the best way for me to tackle all the lists!
Take advantage of hours you’re alone! –
Early mornings or late nights tend to be the times most parents are able to carve some uninterrupted work time into their days. Make the most of these times!
Early risers tend to get the most done before the days get going and it really makes sense. Doesn’t mean it’s easy to do, but it does make sense.
I have done the 5am wake up & get to work call, and as hard as it is to get going, once you do it’s great to see all you can accomplish before your kids are up.
If you still have little ones, nap times and quiet times for older kids are another great chunk of time you can get work and calls/meeting done with likely no interruptions.
Homeschool when it works for you –
First and foremost, remind yourself that homeschool is not re-creating school at home! Lean into the flexible side of this lifestyle when you need to!
Maybe your kids are early risers and you have to be in a meeting at 9, well make the most of that early morning for some school time with your kids. The same goes for late afternoons.
Outsource homeschool where you can (if you want to!). Are you part of a homeschool co-op? Some co-ops offer a drop off for some days, and some that you stay on site for, offer a working space for parents while kids are in group activities.
Some co-op families also rotate days to take each other’s kids for a few hours, outside of co-op, for moms to have a break. Use that time to get work done, and do your homeschool learning on the other days you’re home with your kids.
Check local Facebook homeschool grouppages for homeschool tutor recommendations if you need more help with schooling if your kids are older and have a bigger workload.
There are so many ways to make homeschool work around your schedule, finding what works takes some figuring out, but you’ll get there!
Stay organized –
In all areas of life, this helps a ton. Homeschool organization is key though, especially if you are homeschooling in a small space.
The same goes for your work. Have a dedicated work space, or area that you only work in, for the most part. If you pull up your laptop and work at the kitchen island during naptime/quiet time, that’s fine. But having one spot, a desk or shelf with baskets for work “things” will help you stay focused.
Make a schedule –
I know I knocked the color coded perfect schedule earlier, but you will need some sort of schedule or even a routine in place in order to balance work and homeschool.
Don’t multi-task! –
Seems like an oxymoron to say to a mom, especially to a working/homeschooling mom. How is this even a possibility when you are in charge of so much haha? Well, try your best to focus on one aspect of life at a time.
Remember that schedule I mentioned above? Try to stick to it! At least, loosely.
My main goal is when I am in a zone, homeschool, work, meal preparing, housekeeping etc., I am in THAT zone, and I really try to focus on the task at hand. I keep my phone on silent (but try to check one or two times an hour in case someone really needs me) when I am working on school with my kids.
The same for my work time, even though I do tend to work at times I don’t get interrupted, I try not to check email and let my mind wander when I am working.
Being present is a big thing these days and for good reason. There are distractions lurking everywhere! Try to do one thing and do your best and when you do get interrupted, go with it, but get back to the task at hand when you can.
Say NO –
Learning how to say “no” is one of the hardest things as an adult. Especially as a mom – and I’m not talking saying no to your kid who wants ice cream for lunch ha, although there may be a day where that is a great idea!
The guilt of trying to please everyone and do everything and go to every gathering, etc., can quickly take its toll on you. Add in working and homeschooling and you have a recipe for a complete and total burnout. In fact, I wrote a whole post on the signs of homeschool burnout -how to prevent it, and how to cope when it strikes.
Giving yourself the gift of NO is an amazing, and very liberating feeling.
As I said in my post on burnout, “Anything that isn’t absolutely necessary to you or your family’s survival (sounds dramatic) is most likely something you can say NO to.” Keep that little piece of advice in the forefront of your mind when you’re starting to feel the overwhelm kicking in.
Self-Care –
In order to take care of your family, make sure to take care of yourself. Self-care may sound a little cliché these days, but it really is important.
Make sure you sleep enough, get out for walks around the neighborhood, get a few minutes a day of sunshine and vitamin D. Take a 15 min break here and there for a cup of tea or coffee and just sit and stare out a window if you can.
Allow your brain to decompress and your body too.
It won’t help anyone in your family if you work yourself to the point of absolute exhaustion and possibly get rundown and sick.
Talk with a mom friend, neighbor or family member when you can. Venting if necessary or simply just connecting with another adult who may relate to your heavy workload, will help you stay level headed too.
A big gift of self-care which I lean into weekly is meal planning. Not meal prepping, but planning. Taking a look at our week ahead and planning dinners as well as snack ideas and breakfast & lunch ideas too.
It helps with the obvious of not having to come up with what’s for dinner at 5pm, but also makes sure you stay nourished as well. Eating enough, and having healthy foods & snacks around, is essential to having the fuel needed to power through working while homeschooling.
If your family orders out or goes out to eat weekly, add that into your meal plan. It may seem like one more thing to fit into your already packed schedule, but once you get the hang of it, it’s well worth the small part of one day of planning. It’s so nice to know what’s for dinner and not having to think about it each day.
Working + homeschool = IT CAN HAPPEN!
You can totally work while homeschooling. Be flexible – as I mentioned above, life will come at you on the days you feel the least prepared. With the ideas above and a lot of patience you can do both and do them well.
Enjoy all the moments, even the busy, chaotic ones because as they say, the days are long but the years are short when it comes to parenting young children.
