Mood Boosters for Homeschool

A few tips to turn your mind around when you're feeling low

Taking a 10-minute break goes a long way to center yourself. (Prostock-studio/Shutterstock)

Parents commonly declare that their choice to homeschool is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made and that it affords their family more peace, more joy, and more freedom than they ever thought possible—and yet most homeschooling parents also would agree that homeschooling isn’t for the faint of heart.

It calls for dedication, inner strength, and the ability to keep going when the going gets tough.

So, how does one keep going when you’re exhausted, when you feel like you’re failing, or when nothing seems to be going well? It happens. Life is imperfect, and some days may feel magical while others seem to drain every last ounce of energy a homeschool mom or dad possesses.

When you find yourself in the midst of a homeschool day wondering if it’s bedtime yet and how you’ll ever make it through, here are a few very simple ways you can boost your mood and the overall energy of your homeschool environment.

Time Out

Call a time out—for yourself. Take 10 minutes for a break, to breathe, to have a sip or two of water or tea, to center yourself, and to think of how much you love your children and are blessed. Aim for increased calm. Know that a bad day or a few bad days don’t equate to catastrophic failure. Breathe some more. Return to your children with smiles and hugs.

Change the Tune

Turn on some happy, uplifting music and encourage everyone to get up and bop along. Moving the body can do wonders to increase one’s mood. If you’ve got especially silly moves to entertain your kiddos, all the better. Giggle away and reset the day with renewed perspective.

Head Outside

Quickly get shoes on feet and the family out the door. Whether you head to a local park or beach or just outside your home, feel the sunshine or the rain or whatever the weather happens to be on your face. Enjoy nature and being together. Race to the end of the street and back or toss a ball back and forth.

Make Food Nourishing

The food we eat can have a significant impact on our mood. Choose to prepare a wholesome meal for dinner that you and your family will enjoy. Involve the kids in its preparation and it doubles as a cooking lesson.

Check Your Emotions

Often, what drains us of our energy is our emotional state. How are you choosing to interpret your homeschool happenings? If your child is crying over her math problems, are you taking that as a sign that you just can’t teach her? If your child isn’t cooperating, do you beat yourself up for not being able to turn his attitude around?

Our children can push our buttons like no other people on the planet. But we can choose to not be so easily triggered.

Children of all ages express their needs in sometimes very perplexing ways. Aim to maintain your own inner peace and calmly address your homeschooling challenges. Know that you can always adjust your schedule, your curriculum, and even your overall strategy to better fulfill your goals. Focus simply on loving your children and strengthening your relationship with them. If you can refrain from beating yourself up and reacting emotionally in the process, you’ll find yourself with a much fuller energy tank.

Time to Yourself

Finally, make sure your homeschool day includes some time to yourself each day. Even the most extroverted parents need to step away from the duties of homeschooling to rest, pursue their own interests, or think. The sheer act of doing so will offer your children an important lesson—encouraging their own self-development and care.