7 Ways That Homeschool Moms Can Get Breaks

Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn X (Twitter) Email

Our kids are a priority in our lives. We love them, care for them, and devote our days to homeschooling them. We’re committed to giving our children an education that fosters individual growth and exponential learning opportunities in a warm and safe environment; however, this can be a lot for moms to tackle daily. We need breaks too!

Here are 7 ways that homeschool moms can get breaks:

Take a nap.
Do what you love and pursue your passions.
Pamper yourself.
Get into physical activities.
Enjoy the outdoors.
Socialize with your loved ones.
Evaluate your homeschool operations.

When moms take some time for self-care and breaks, it can promote a renewed vigor for all that she does, resulting in benefits that are well worth the time put into taking a break. Read on to learn about the 7 ways that homeschool moms can get breaks and the benefits of taking this extra time to yourself.

This post may contain affiliate links.

1. Take a Nap

The Mayo Clinic shares information about the benefits of napping for adults. These include relaxation, improved alertness, better mood, reduced fatigue, and improved response time and memory.

While too much daytime sleep could cause grogginess or nighttime sleep issues, short naps are typically okay. If you’re exhausted, follow up with your doctor to see if there’s an underlying cause.

To reap the benefits of napping, try the following:

Take 10-20 minutes of short naps. Use a timer such as the one on your phone. If your kids are still young enough, you can try to nap at the same time as them. Alternatively, consider asking a friend or your spouse to watch the kids so you can lay down. Don’t forget the earplugs if you think it might be too noisy to rest.
Take naps earlier in the day, around 3 PM, so you don’t risk your nap interfering with your night’s sleep.
Create an environment that’s restful and peaceful. This may be your bedroom or a side room with a comfy couch or recliner. Make sure it’s warm enough to your liking. Wear something comfortable and cozy, like sweatpants and a fuzzy sweater. Turn off the lights, close the curtains and the door, and settle in.
Allow for a few more minutes to fully wake up when your timer goes off before resuming homeschooling or other tasks.

Consider putting a WSNIHO Do Not Disturb Sign (available on Amazon.com) on your door to let everyone know that mom needs a little break and some rest. This sign is double-sided, with “Welcome” on the other side. Use it as a polite way to put up some boundaries and get that much-needed break and rest.

2. Do What You Love and Pursue Your Passions

Homeschooling may be one of your passions, and in this capacity, you’re serving others by giving them a unique and special opportunity. However, it would be best if you also did something that allows you to follow another one of your hobbies. By doing something you love, you’ll find that you get a mental break from the daily routines of life.

If you have trouble narrowing down what you like doing in your adult life, try these tips:

Reflect on and remember what you loved as a child. I know you’re an adult now, but you had dreams and ideas about things you enjoyed, like the children you teach. Exploring your childhood past might bring forth some hidden passions. For example, if you liked writing stories as a kid, perhaps that’ll encourage you to start your mommy blog, join a creative writing class at the local library, or work on personal journaling.
Imagine a world where money isn’t an obstacle. What would you do? Where would you go? Use your answers and thoughts to lead you to do something enjoyable. For example, if you would go to Hawaii (without the thought of financial woes), consider putting on a floral shirt, drinking something sweet, and sitting in the yard for a little uninterrupted sunshine.
Ask your friends or spouse for their thoughts. Ask them to tell you when they notice you seem to be the happiest. This might clue you into what you can do to give yourself a break.
Read or browse nearby college course offerings. Again, put the cost out of your mind. What courses might you try? What courses do you think you could teach? Let your mind consider the possibilities. Even if you’re too busy to take up college right now, exploring what colleges offer might inspire you to enjoy a related activity.
Identify someone that you look up to and respect. Reflect on why you feel a particular way about them. What do they do? Figuring out why you look up to someone may help you uncover passions for something new in life.

When you’re done reflecting, make a list of things that bring you joy or are passionate about. Perhaps it’s making origami, baking an apple pie, or attending a workshop about gardening.

Even though these may sound like work, you’re giving yourself a break and doing some self-care when they’re enjoyable. Your family will appreciate and notice the renewed energy these activities can bring you. If you want to do something that costs money, start saving and budgeting for it, setting goals to accomplish your passion.

3. Pamper Yourself

Find at least 10 minutes to pamper yourself. Your body needs a break, and when you soothe the body, you will soothe your mind. Try these ideas:

Treat yourself to a spa day or nail treatment. Or, for more budget-friendly pampering, you can buy a Nurture by Nature Botanicals Spa Gift Basket (available on Amazon.com). This set comes with natural-based products infused with essential oils such as an orange and bergamot essential oil soy wax scented candle, lemongrass and ginger body scrub, zesty citrus hand cream, and lemongrass and thyme bath bomb bar.
Bathe. If the kids are asleep or being watched after, shut the door to the bathroom and enjoy an extra-long hot shower or soak in a bubble bath to let the tension melt away.
Get a massage. A NekTeck Foot Massager (available on Amazon.com) might be just the right treatment for your feet after a long day. Six massagers and 18 rotating massager nodes will help your feet relax, ease tension, and promote healthy blood flow.
Turn on the indoor fountain. The Agoodping Desktop Waterfall (available on Amazon.com) can be used while you enjoy your spa kit, take a bath, or massage your feet. The soothing sounds of the water as it falls gently over a 3-tier tower of bowls will calm your mind and give you the break you deserve.
Try meditating to calm the nerves. Minds naturally run like crazy when you are a parent. Meditating will help calm thoughts and reduce daily tension because you learn to accept and embrace racing thoughts while identifying body sensations.

Benefits of spa-like treatments can include the release of happy and mood balancing hormones called serotonin and dopamine, enhanced sleep, and reduced pain and headaches.

4. Get Into Physical Activities

Our bodies were made to move. Moving and exercising are essential for health. Benefits of moving can include clearer memory and thinking, more energy, improved sleep, healthy muscles and bones, and improved mood.

There are various ways to move and give your body and mind a little break. Try these short and easy to implement suggestions:

Take a stretch break. Stretch in the opposite direction of sitting, reach the ceiling, stretch your arms out to the sides, bend, and stretch your legs out, pointing your toes. Gently rotate your neck. Do a few laps around the inside or outside of your house. Go up and down the stairs. Don’t forget to take a few deep breaths and avoid doing any chores – just move and be in the moment.
Go for a walk, bike ride, or jog around the block or neighborhood. Ask a friend or your spouse to join you for some socialization.
Schedule a time that’s devoted to daily exercise. You have scheduled many things for your children, but don’t forget to schedule time for you too. Find an activity you enjoy and want to do, such as a workout video, the treadmill in your basement, or the local gym.

5. Enjoy the Outdoors

You can enjoy a break outside with or without the kids. Perhaps you can do a homeschool swap by having another homeschooling family take your kids for the day while you take a break. You can return the favor another day. Then, in addition to the previously mentioned outdoor exercise activities, get outside to do one (or several) of the following:

Do some gardening. However, only do this if this is something you enjoy. Some people find serenity in their gardens, so don’t pull those weeds as a personal break if you feel like it is a chore.
Sit in the backyard or on the porch with a snack and something enjoyable to read. Let the sounds of nature soothe you.
Browse shops in town. With someone else watching the kids, enjoy this time alone or with a friend. You don’t have to buy anything either; just get out there!
Go to your favorite coffee shop. Take a book or a friend and enjoy an hour or two away on break.
See a movie or visit a new exhibit at a nearby museum. Take a friend, spouse, or go by yourself. This allows you to participate in something outside the walls of your home.

Getting outside can relieve stress, increase job (teaching) satisfaction, a stronger immunity, clearer focus, and improved short-term memory. It can also help calm the mind and manage weight.

It has also been found that those who spend time outside in good lighting reap the benefits of good eyesight. It’s beneficial to take a break from the strain of looking at books, lesson planning, paperwork, and digital content.

6. Socialize With Your Loved Ones

Human nature requires us to be around others. However, being around the same people all the time might also be a source of stress and frustration. Therefore, it’s essential to socialize often with different groups of people.

The Mayo Clinic shares that there are many benefits of being socially connected. Socializing is essential for the good health of both the mind and body. Spending too much time alone can lead to a lower quality of life and an increased risk of depression.

Socializing with others can reduce loneliness, help sharpen cognitive and memory skills, increase a sense of well-being, and may even improve longevity.

Technology can be used for socialization, especially if you can see the other person’s face to respond and interact with the expressions and moods.

Socialize With Existing Friends

Try a moms-only night out. Make plans for a sitter or spouse to watch the kids, call up some mom friends and enjoy some time together over a meal, movie, or other activity. You might be inclined to talk about homeschooling and mom life, but that’s okay. This conversion can help you see that you’re not alone.

But guard your heart against comparing yourself to the other moms. Your homeschooling life and logistics are bound to be different. That’s the whole point of flexible and learning-catered education.

Good friends are beneficial to health. They can lift you and support you throughout your life and prevent isolation and loneliness. Friends offer companionship, giving you a sense of belonging and purpose, self-confidence, and self-worth. Friends can help you cope with trauma, grief, and stress.

Socialize With New Friends

It can be hard to make new friends, especially as adults. Adulthood can cause friendships to be put on the back burner as you attend to other priorities in your life, such as homeschooling. However, the time put into maintaining and developing friendships is worth it.

You can develop friendships with new people by looking at people you come into contact with or just met that positively impacted you.

Trying to meet new people in the following ways:

Introduce yourself to neighbors. Make small talk and look for commonalities. Greet people in the neighborhood when you’re out walking by yourself, at the park, or with the dog.
Reach out to someone that you met before. Perhaps you had a positive connection with someone at a workshop, the local gym, co-op, church, or a community event.
Attend events or clubs in the community. Consider attending events or joining clubs centered around a hobby or interest of yours.
Volunteer. Offering your time and talents for a cause that you’re passionate about will lead you to meet others that feel the same.
Offer and accept invitations. Practice saying “yes” to socialization with others.

As previously mentioned, making friends can feel awkward or difficult. You may need to initiate a conversation with new people. These new people likely have busy lives like you, so stay positively persistent in forming these new relationships.

You won’t become friends with every person you meet, but keeping a friendly attitude and openness to socialize will help you maintain all relationships in your life.

Socialize With Your Spouse

Ask a friend, relative, or sitter to watch the kids for a few hours. Order pizza delivery for them, and then go on a date with your spouse.

Get rid of the sweatpants and wear something nice. Just wearing something different, styling your hair in another way, or putting on shoes that aren’t slippers can put a little bounce back into your step.

Plus, spending some time with your spouse is essential for maintaining a healthy relationship, giving you time and space to connect as adults.

Maintaining Relationships

Maintaining relationships with existing friends, new friends, and your spouse involves giving and receiving support. You can only nurture good friendships if you’re also a good friend.

To do this, you’ll want to aim to be kind and a good listener. Open up about your personal experiences and concerns to deepen connections and show that you can be trusted. Make yourself available and give other people your time.

7. Evaluate Your Homeschool Operations

Homeschooling families do a lot: field trips, individualized curricular materials, co-ops, athletics, and extracurricular activities, and the parents serve as educators, administration, counselors, PE teachers, and more, all within the place they live and sleep in too.

The great benefit of homeschooling is that there’s much flexibility even when state regulations are followed. If you need a break, you may need to evaluate your homeschool operations to find the right balance between school and personal life.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do I depend too much on the curriculum? Do I need to do the remaining workbook pages if my child has mastered the skill? If not, get rid of those extras, and use resources that expand learning. Less is better when you do it well.
Are my kids stressed or showing signs of being overworked? If so, keep lessons short at 20-30 minutes with breaks in between.
Am I doing too much all by myself and feeling overworked too? Foster your children’s independence and have them help out with age-appropriate tasks. Leave unfinished tasks for tomorrow, don’t stay up late trying to get them all done before bed.
Are we overscheduled? Do extracurricular activities keep us busy every single day? If yes, prioritize and cut back. Replace extracurricular activities with family time to reconnect. Leave time in the days for free play, playing with friends, or swimming in the neighbor’s pool. Focus on each other instead of the to-do list.

When you evaluate your homeschooled life and make changes that support everyone involved, you’ll find there’s enough time for mental breaks and enjoyable activities that can bring you closer as a family. The ups and downs of life are normal but know that you can take the time to regroup, rest, and take breaks. Then, you can truly enjoy and appreciate all that homeschooling brings to your family’s lives.