Time Management Tips for Building a
Homeschool Schedule

So much of the conversation around homeschooling is focused on children, understandably. But what about the parents who are supervising homeschooling?

Homeschooling parents often manage multiple roles within their household. Juggling academics, household chores, and family life can quickly leave them feeling overwhelmed. A helpful tool for parents who may find themselves struggling is effective homeschool time management.

1. Make Homeschooling a Priority

Treat your homeschooling time (both prep time and instructional time) as you would a traditional job. After all, homeschooling your child is labor. Schedule dedicated planning blocks into your calendar just as you would important meetings or appointments. This visual reminder helps prioritize education and ensures it doesn't get constantly pushed aside by other demands.

2. Establish a Routine for Yourself

Routines are helpful for adults, as well as children. While your children perform their routines throughout the day, you can and should perform yours. For example, as your child is preparing for their school day, take that time to prepare yourself to supervise their education.

3. Curb Multitasking

We often think we're being productive by multitasking, but studies have shown that it actually decreases efficiency and increases stress. When it's time for homeschooling, give it your full attention.

Minimize distractions like phones and emails, and create a dedicated learning space where your children can focus. Limit notifications or put your phone on Do Not Disturb. You can even put your phone in a designated basket or box to physically remove it from the learning space.

4. Delegate, Ask Help, and Accept Assistance

Homeschooling parents can lighten their load by delegating tasks and enlisting the help of family members. Older children can often assist with younger siblings' learning activities, such as reading aloud, playing educational games, or helping with simple assignments. Of course, helping their younger siblings should not detract from their own schoolwork.

Be honest with your spouse about how you’re dealing with managing your child’s homeschool education. Spouses can share the responsibility by taking an active role in study time or curriculum research. They can take on other household tasks, like making or prepping meals, writing the grocery list and shopping, cleaning, managing finances, and more.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or trusted family friends may also be willing to offer their time by pitching in. They can listen to your child practice a musical instrument, take your pet for a walk, or listen to you share about your homeschool experience.

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5. Allow Yourself to Have Downtime

You may feel like the responsibility of your child’s education rests on your shoulders. While you may be primarily responsible for it, you also need time to engage in your own hobbies, exercise, explore something new, or just give yourself a break. Remove any guilt around doing things that are “just for you” by truly believing that when you do things that fill your cup, you’ll be able to be a more focused and attentive homeschool parent.

6. Set Daily Goals for Yourself

Your kids aren’t the only ones with objectives to meet! Try setting daily goals for yourself to help manage your stress. These goals should focus on key areas such as lesson planning, instruction, grading, and any other tasks that you need to manage that day.

• Write a physical list in a planner or notebook and enjoy the satisfaction of checking each one off. If you keep your lists, you can also track your progress.
• Be realistic. While you might not cross off every item on your to-do list, you’ll be able to cross off a few. Give yourself a break if you don’t clear your list. Start fresh the next day.
• Don’t get distracted. Avoid adding household chores or other tasks unrelated to homeschooling on your goal list.
• Give the Eisenhower Matrix a go. Categorize tasks as urgent/important, urgent/not important, not urgent/important, and not urgent/not important. Focus on the urgent/important tasks first.
• Try the Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 rule. Identify the 20% of tasks that yield 80% of the result. Prioritize those.

7. Outsource What You Can

Do you have any flexibility in your household budget? Paying for a professional to handle certain tasks may be well worth it to free up your time and get them off your plate. For example, hiring a cleaner to come once or twice a month can save you hours of time. Perhaps hiring a bookkeeper, using a grocery delivery service, or Additionally, you’re supporting your local economy, as well as having more time to spend with your family or complete other essential household or homeschooling tasks.

8. Prioritize Rest

Rest is not a luxury; it's essential for both you and your children. Include regular breaks throughout the day for physical activity, free play, and relaxation. Modeling the importance of rest for your children teaches them valuable life skills and helps prevent burnout.

9. Batch Similar Tasks to Save Time

Try batching similar tasks together to save time. Instead of constantly switching between lesson planning, grading, and curriculum research, designate specific time blocks to each activity. By grouping similar tasks, you can maintain focus, minimize distractions, reduce mental fatigue, and complete tasks more efficiently. For example, schedule a dedicated planning session on Sunday evenings to prepare for the upcoming week's lessons. Similarly, batch grading activities by setting aside a specific time to review and assess assignments.

10. Guard Your Boundaries

Homeschooling parents must establish and maintain clear boundaries to protect their time, energy, and the overall success of their child’s homeschooling journey. Sometimes, homeschooling families encounter well-intentioned advice at best, at worst outright judgment from friends or family members.

What does that look like? This involves setting limits on interruptions during school time, politely declining unsolicited advice, and firmly communicating their educational philosophy to family and friends.

It's important to define specific times for your child’s homeschool day and adhere to them as much as possible, minimizing distractions during these periods. Tell your family and friends when it’s acceptable for them to stop by your house. Let them know that if you need advice or help, you’ll ask for it. Be polite but firm, and steadfast in your boundaries. This is as much for your child’s education as it is for you.