Can you believe we are homeschooling during quarantine? WOW! My intention was to write more often than I have, but it seems like the entire world has changed in just the last 10 days. Everything is canceled. All the things. We are having to adjust being at home at.all.times. This has been hard, even for me, a self identified introvert! Our best laid plans have been thrown out the window.
How are you handling homeschooling during quarantine? If you’re like me, you’re having good moments and hard moments. Good days and bad days. Days where you think, “I’ve got this!”. And other days where the enormity of the uncertainty feels so overwhelming. So, what are we to do?
Start with Small Routines
There is no shortage of advice on how to fill your time at home. Countless companies are offering free resources. You can easily pull up hundreds of options on Google. To me, it’s too much. I do not have the mental capacity to sort through everything. My advice is to start small. Start with implementing and STICKING WITH an attainable daily routine. Have different routines for your weekdays and weekends.
Furthermore, get dressed. I read a quote that said, “Flannel starts to feel like depression after about 3 days.” It’s so true. I am used to wearing make up every day. When I don’t, I feel lazy and unmotivated. So, I’ve been wearing my typical make up almost every day. It has really helped my mentality in approaching the day. Below is the weekday we are using in our family (2 parents at home barely working with 3 kids):
*8:30-9:15 (this is the only time we go by the clock): Every one gets dressed
*Homeschool my two older girls, while hubby take the toddler upstairs for some gross motor play
*Morning snack/break from school
*Finish school while toddler does a puzzle (or some other simple activity)
*Lunch
*Nap/Quiet time
*Afternoon snack while watching TV
*Get out of the house in some way (play outside, go for a walk, take a drive)
*Follow typical night time routine of dinner, baths, after dinner snack, and bed
I hope this helps bring a little intentionality to your day. We’ve been following this routine for about 4 days now, and every day it feels a little more normal. We can do this. We ARE doing it! If you’re needing encouragement for how to manage self care during quarantine, check out this post.