Homeschooling is one of the most meaningful journeys I’ve ever walked—and also one of the most emotionally, mentally, and physically demanding. Some days feel peaceful and productive, and other days feel like I’m running on fumes, juggling curriculum planning, dishes, meltdowns, laundry, family text messages, field trip planning, and the responsibility of shaping my kids’ education.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that… I still have to remember to take care of myself.
If you’re reading this, maybe you’re feeling the same tension—wanting to give your kids the very best, but struggling to keep your own cup full.
Sometimes self-care for homeschool moms feels almost impossible. Maybe you’ve tried squeezing in hobbies but it never sticks. Maybe you’re so tired by evening that all you can do is put on a show and scroll your phone until you fall asleep. Maybe you feel guilty even thinking about taking a break.
And if no one has told you this lately, let me be the one:
Your wellbeing matters. Your peace matters. Your energy matters. You matter.
This blog post is here to help you shift from survival mode to something gentler, lighter, and more sustainable. I want you to walk away feeling encouraged, with practical ideas you can use today—not someday.
Let’s talk about real, doable, soul-nourishing self-care for homeschool moms.
Why Homeschool Moms Struggle So Much With Self-Care
Before we jump into strategies, I want to name the struggles you may be carrying—because you’re not alone.
The pressure to “do it all”
When you homeschool, you’re not just teaching. You’re managing the home, the meals, the emotional needs, the schedule, and the mental load. It’s easy to feel like taking a break means falling behind.
Guilt
Most homeschool moms I know (including myself at times) feel guilty stepping away for even an hour.
“Shouldn’t I be using that time to prep lessons?
To read to the kids?
To clean something?”
Lack of time
Self-care feels like something you do when you have “extra time”—and let’s be honest, that doesn’t exist.
Not knowing what actually helps
Many moms tell me,
“I don’t even know what kind of self-care I need anymore.”
And that’s normal. When you spend your days giving to everyone else, your needs get blurry.
This is the problem I want this post to help solve:
You need self-care that is realistic, rejuvenating, guilt-free, and tailored to homeschool life.
So let’s get into it.
Self-Care That Fits into Homeschool Life (Not the Other Way Around)
If your idea of self-care is adding another complicated routine to your week, please hear me gently:
You don’t need more work.
You need more ease.
These ideas are designed for moms with real homes, real kids, real responsibilities—not fantasy Pinterest moms.
1. Create a “Morning Anchor” Instead of a Morning Routine
This is one of the most life-changing things I’ve ever implemented.
A full morning routine can be overwhelming. But a morning anchor is one simple practice that grounds you—something you do for yourself before the school day starts.
Examples:
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A warm cup of coffee or tea outside on the patio
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A 5-minute devotion or meditation
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Quiet journaling with a soft blanket
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Sitting in silence before anyone wakes up
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Stretching your body for just 60 seconds
One anchor.
Every morning.
No pressure. No timeline.
This gives your nervous system a gentle reset before the swirl of the day begins.
2. Simplify Your Homeschool—That’s Self-Care Too
A huge part of self-care is removing unnecessary stress.
Many homeschool moms are overwhelmed not because they’re doing too little self-care—but because their homeschool expectations are unrealistic.
Here are ways to simplify:
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Choose open-and-go curriculum for certain subjects
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Use YouTube lessons, nature walks, and documentaries guilt-free
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Do one “deep” subject per day instead of all subjects every day
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Combine kids for science, history, and read-aloud
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Keep a “good enough” mindset
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Remember: your child doesn’t need a Pinterest-worthy setup to learn
Simplifying your homeschool is taking care of yourself.
3. Build Tiny Moments of Rest into Your Day
Instead of waiting for “free time,” create micro breaks.
Here are my favorites:
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Lighting a candle while you teach
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Turning on calming music
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Taking 45 seconds to breathe with your eyes closed
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Drinking water from a pretty cup
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Sitting with your kids during independent work rather than rushing to clean
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Stepping outside for 2 minutes of fresh air
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Decluttering one small item—it’s surprisingly therapeutic
These tiny pauses signal to your brain that you are safe, not rushed, not trapped in chaos.
4. Have a Weekly “Mom Reset Hour”
I guard this with my life now.
Choose one hour per week (even 30 minutes is fine) that is JUST for resetting you—not the house, not the kids, not chores.
Ideas for your reset hour:
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Wash your hair and style it slowly
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Paint your nails
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Journal your thoughts
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Sit with a warm drink and read
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Take a walk alone
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Do a face mask
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Plan your week with soft music and a cozy blanket
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Do yoga or stretching
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Watch a comfort show while folding laundry (yes, this counts!)
Put it on the calendar and make it a non-negotiable.
5. Build a Support Circle (Even a Tiny One)
Homeschooling can feel isolating—especially if you’re introverted or busy.
But humans were never meant to raise children alone.
You don’t need a huge group.
You just need one or two supportive people.
Ideas:
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Join a small local co-op
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Meet with another homeschool mom once a month
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Text a friend during tough days
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Join online homeschool groups for moral support
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Ask family members to watch the kids for an hour a week
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Trade childcare with a friend (“you take them Thursday, I’ll take them Friday”)
Connection is a form of self-care.
6. Declutter Your Mental Load
Self-care isn’t just bubble baths—it’s reducing overwhelm.
Tools that help:
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A weekly homeschool planner
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A meal plan with 5 easy meals you repeat
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A cleaning schedule that is simple and flexible
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A weekly “brain dump” where you release everything swirling in your mind
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A notes app for ideas, reminders, and to-dos
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Prepping breakfast the night before
You will feel lighter almost immediately.
7. Move Your Body in Ways That Feel Gentle
A lot of moms avoid exercise because it feels like one more thing they “should” do.
But movement doesn’t have to be intense—it can be nurturing.
Try:
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A slow morning stretch routine
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Gentle pilates
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Walking around the block with the kids
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Dancing while you clean
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A 5-minute YouTube workout
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Family bike rides or nature walks
Movement helps regulate emotions, boost energy, and reduce stress hormones.
8. Protect Your Evenings
Evenings are a danger zone for burnout.
When the kids go to bed, many moms start round 2: cleaning, prepping lessons, catching up on laundry, finishing tasks.
But you deserve to rest.
Protect your evenings by:
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Setting a “cut-off time” for chores
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Doing a 10-minute family tidy BEFORE bedtime
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Turning off the lights and using lamps for a softer feel
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Ending the night with something comforting (reading, skincare, tea, prayer, journaling)
Your evenings should refill you, not drain you.
9. Let Go of Comparison—It’s Stealing Your Peace
Nothing drains a homeschool mom faster than comparing her homeschool to someone else’s.
Repeat after me:
I do not need to recreate someone else’s homeschool.
My children need me, not Pinterest.
Good homeschooling is NOT perfect homeschooling.
Your homeschool is beautiful because it is yours.
Let go of the pressure to perform, impress, or keep up, and focus on what feels right for your family.
That’s true self-care.
10. Do Something for YOU Every Day (Even If It’s Small)
You need at least one thing a day that is purely yours—not related to kids, teaching, homemaking, or responsibilities.
Ideas:
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Listen to your favorite music
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Read a few pages of a book
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Color in an adult coloring book
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Try a new recipe
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Crochet, knit, or craft
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Do a puzzle
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Watch a cozy YouTube vlog
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Practice a hobby you used to love
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Sit outside with your face in the sun
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Enjoy a snack alone in peace (yes, that counts!)
These tiny joys add up and keep you grounded.
11. Release the Belief That Rest Must Be Earned
This one is hard but necessary.
You don’t have to earn rest by being productive.
You don’t have to check off your entire to-do list.
You don’t have to hold everything together before you’re allowed to breathe.
You are a person before you are a homeschool mom.
You deserve rest simply because you exist.
12. Teach Your Kids Independent Routines (This Is HUGE)
One of the most powerful self-care strategies is nurturing your children’s independence.
Teach them:
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How to get their own snacks
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How to tidy a room without help
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How to entertain themselves respectfully
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How to fold simple laundry
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How to follow a checklist for schoolwork
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How to prepare their backpacks or supplies
This not only helps you—it teaches them life skills and confidence.
13. Create a Cozy Homeschool Atmosphere
Environment affects mood more than we realize.
Try:
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Warm lighting instead of harsh overhead lights
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Soft background music
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A clean table for lessons
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Cozy blankets during read-aloud
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Diffusing essential oils or cinnamon simmer pots
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Adding a plant or a candle to your space
A cozy environment can calm both you and your kids, turning your homeschool into a place of peace.
14. Give Yourself Permission to Take Real Breaks
Breaks are not failure. Breaks prevent burnout.
Take days off when you need them.
Shift lessons to the afternoon.
Do a “cozy school day” with:
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movies
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board games
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audiobooks
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nature walks
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baking
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creative crafts
You are not behind.
You are honoring your capacity.
15. Remember: Self-Care Makes You a Better Homeschool Mom—Not a Neglectful One
Your kids need a mom who is:
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emotionally regulated
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mentally present
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physically well
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supported
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rested
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happy
They will not remember every lesson or worksheet,
but they will remember how home felt.
Your self-care is part of their education because they learn by watching you.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve to Feel Whole
Homeschooling is beautiful and hard and holy and ordinary and overwhelming—all at once. And while you hold everything together, please remember:
You deserve gentleness.
You deserve quiet moments.
You deserve joy.
You deserve to be cared for too.
Start small. Choose one thing from this list today.
Your future self will thank you. Your kids will feel the difference.
And your homeschool will blossom from a place of peace instead of pressure.
If this post helped you, please share it with another homeschool mom who might need a little encouragement today.
You can also visit my shop for homeschool planners, gratitude journals, weekly menu planners, and organization tools that make homeschool life smoother and calmer.
Together, we can build a homeschool life that nourishes both our kids and ourselves.
Leave a Comment
I’d love to hear from you!
What is the hardest part of self-care for you as a homeschool mom?
And what is one thing you want to start doing for yourself this week?
Share your thoughts below—I read every comment.
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