If you are wondering how to balance homeschooling and working at the same time then you are in the right place.
I have been homeschooling for almost ten years, and for the second time in my homeschooling career, I find myself, once again, in the position of balancing homeschooling with earning some money.
Why I didn’t marry a millionaire I’ll never know.
Still. At least I know plenty of ways to homeschool for free.
Homeschooling (when you’re a complete novice)
My first attempt at homeschooling and working full time was a disaster.
Awful.
I made lots of mistakes and ended up feeling like a squashed banana on a busy highway.
So this time around I made sure that I did things differently.
For a start, I learned how to homeschool for 3 days a week and have time for other things.
That’s one of the benefits of homeschooling – you get to learn from your mistakes and then you become brilliant. Or at the very least, really good.
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Homeschooling and Working. The Mistakes I Made
If are just starting your homeschool journey and you are currently working (and wondering how the hell you are going to manage both) then fear not.
I’m here for you.
The beauty of knowing someone who has a homeschooled before you is that you can ask them lots of things. Like what are the best kind of homeschooling schedules and do I have to stop drinking wine now that I am officially the teacher to my child?
The answer’s no by the way.
I don’t know if you’ve heard but they passed a new law. Once you become a homeschool mom you are allowed to drink more wine than normal. It helps you to memorize your seven times tables.
Ok then.
Now that’s out of the way let’s get to cover the mistakes that you will want to avoid making when homeschooling and working at the same time.
Ready?
Mistake #1: Believing I was superwoman (but without the red skirt)
I believed that I could do both – that I could continue to homeschool my kids and have a full-time business without having to change anything.
Mistake #2: Not creating a schedule
I failed to put a schedule into place, and so I could never really plan or commit to one thing or the other.
Mistake #3: Trying to mix homeschooling & working into one big messy soup
I tried to kid myself that I could tie the job that I was doing into some sort of homeschooling lesson for my kids – which in a way, yes, it was. But at the end of the day, I was working.
I was charging money for my services and the stress of remaining professional to my employers whilst at the same time trying my hardest not to disrupt my kids routine (and be cool) was, in the end too much.
Mistake #4: Change? No way. Not me. No sir
This was a hard lesson for me to learn while I was homeschooling.
I used to be the sort of person who believed that if something wasn’t working, then I needed to work harder at it until it did.
I think it was Einstein who said: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results”
‘nough said.
Mistake #5: Not asking for help
Let’s get this straight. Homeschooling is a job. Working is a job. Looking after a house is a job. Fleaing the dog is a job.
You cannot possibly do all of those things alone.
Not unless you want to burn out quickly. But I tried to. And that’s why I struggled enormously.
Put the right practices into place from the start, and you won’t have to struggle as I did.
Are you a little lost? Does your life suddenly resemble a feature film that you DON’T remember auditioning for?? 🤷🏻♀️
If you are homeschooling and need some honest advice and a virtual glass of wine? 🍷
Then sign up for my FREE 15 part homeschooling email guide & let me show you how EASY this can be! ☑️
Homeschooling & Working. 7 Things To Ensure Success
Success #1: In out, in out shake it all about
If you have only just started your homeschooling journey and are combining your child’s education with your job, then your work schedule will have to change in some way.
If you are an old hat at homeschooling and have recently taken on a job then…yep, the homeschooling routine will have to change.
Both of these changes are ok.
Get used to change because when you are juggling a lot of balls in the air, you have to keep moving your feet position.
Change is good.
Change means that you can and will make it work.
Success #2: Who needs yoga when yuz as bendy like you?
Flexibility is the key to making both homeschooling and holding down a job work.
Working weekends, schooling three days a week, early morning calls, late afternoon walks in the park, no school on Wednesday, evening planning… Everything is doable when you are prepared to bend.
Success #3: It’s all in the planning baby
I don’t care if your you are super organised, and your name is Mary Poppins – you will only be able to succeed at homeschooling and working at the same time if you have a solid schedule in place.
The second time around, I made that schedule.
For many years I was homeschooling for just 3 days a week and my life was a zillion times more manageable.
Are you a multi-tasker? Of course, you are, you’re a parent! Then why not listen to my podcast how to homeschool and work at the same time while you read?
Success #4: Can you just? Will you just? Should I just?
Allow for interruptions. In fact, don’t just allow for them but schedule them into your day. Right there in black and white.
Because they will happen.
And if you do manage to get through a few hours without any questions, well then you can run around the lounge with your knickers on your head a sing Yankee doodle dandy.
Success #5: Blocks. The time sort, not the chocolate
Although a few blocks of chocolate and a nice cup of tea sounds a little more tempting, time blocks are what we are talking about my friend.
If you really can’t face putting a homeschool schedule into place then at the very least use time blocks to arrange everyone’s day.
9-11 block. 11.30 -2 block. 3-4 block etc. Start with the blocking technique and fill in the details of the schedule from there.
Success #6: Your mind is made up. Down down. Not sideways. Up.
This was a tricky one for me, and I’ll admit, I’m still working on it.
But if I can give you just one successful homeschooling tip to help you with homeschooling and working full-time day (with as little stress as possible) it is this:
Learn to be decisive and assertive.
Not always easy, I know, but super beneficial (listen to the podcast and I’ll tell you why).
Success #7: Tell me what you want what you really really want
This homeschooling tip is probably the most simple of all but one that gets overlooked.
Your family aren’t mindreaders, so you need to voice your needs. If you don’t tell people what you need, then they probably won’t ever guess.
Not if there is a Nintendo DS to play with.
I know that it can be hard to put yourself to the front of the family line and I understand that you don’t want to stress everyone out with your needs and demands, but that’s the way it is.
For now, anyway.
Your work is essential, and there will be times when it needs to take priority over the kids (and that’s perfectly ok).
Of course, your kids will always be number one, but for you to be able to homeschool and work at the same time everyone in the family must know what you need and how you would like those needs to be met.
If this is made clear from the start, you will avoid any unnecessary conflict and guilt.
Homeschooling & Working Podcast
Homeschooling and working will look differently for everyone.
(What happens on this homeschooling podcast stays on this homeschooling podcast)
In this week’s podcast episode, I talked about:
🤔 The BIG mistakes I made when I tried homeschooling and working the first time around
🤔 What happened when I tried to do both
🤔 I give seven tips on what you can do differently (and why it will work for you)
🤔 My number one super-duper homeschool planning tip
🤔 Whether homeschooling a high schooler is easier than a littly.
To find out how you can make homeschooling and working a success listen to the podcast NOW!
Links Mentioned In The Homeschooling & Working Podcast
Homeschooling & working (the first time around). Why it didn’t work out.
Are you a little lost? Does your life suddenly resemble a feature film that you DON’T remember auditioning for?? 🤷🏻♀️
If you are homeschooling and need some honest advice and a virtual glass of wine? 🍷
Then sign up for my FREE 15 part homeschooling email guide & let me show you how EASY this can be! ☑️
Next, you could read…
Creating a Homeschool schedule. The good, the bad and the cry baby.
Kids who love to game. Will they grow up to be a mindless blob?
Wine o’clock with Liz & Brian (Podcast about why couples need time alone. I mean alone alone.)
Right Now Page (check out what we are doing right now!)
Did you enjoy the podcast on homeschooling & working?
Ok. A favour before you click off and leave me forever down under…
✔︎ We’d love to know what you think about this week’s show and if there is anything you would like to know further so that we can include it in our next podcast.
✔︎ Thank you for your support and don’t forget— If you enjoy our podcasts then you can subscribe to us on iTunes or Spotify (that way you will never miss an episode!)
✔︎ If you know of someone who is homeschooling and trying to work at the same time, then please, share this podcast with them!
Liz x
Are you a little lost? Does your life suddenly resemble a feature film that you DON’T remember auditioning for?? 🤷🏻♀️
If you are homeschooling and need some honest advice and a virtual glass of wine? 🍷
Then sign up for my FREE 15 part homeschooling email guide & let me show you how EASY this can be! ☑️
