Beat the Winter Homeschool Slump: Do One Thing Different
Happiness comes more from our actions than our circumstances: about 40 percent of the average person’s happiness comes from things they do. So to get out of a rut, do something different. It’s almost too easy.
Drop the thing you hate. Whether it’s driving to soccer practice or proctoring math worksheets, take a break from your least favorite part of your homeschool routine. Maybe you’ll go back to it in a few weeks or months, maybe you’ll find a substitute that’s a better fit. Either way, you’ll get a break that opens up a shiny new space in your daily routine.
That thing you want to do? Do it! Maybe it’s art afternoons or family movie night or science experiments — but there’s something on your if-only-we-had-more-time radar that you just never seem to get to. Put it front and center now, and make it your homeschool priority for a few weeks.
Get outside. Even in the middle of winter, a little fresh air can go a long way toward brightening your everyday routine. Make a point to spend at least a few minutes outside every day, and brave the weather to take a nature walk or just speed-walk around the block every chance you get.
Live in reverse. Our secret weapon for a really tough day? Go backwards: Start the day with dessert, pajamas, and a bedtime story, and work your way back to breakfast for dinner. It’s weird and wacky and somehow just the right thing to get everyone in a happier spirit.
The Joy of Lists
Add a little oomph to your routine with some strategic list making — it’s surprisingly inspiring, as you’ve no doubt discovered by falling into a Buzzfeed lists hole yourself now and again. Here are a few list ideas to get you started:
Field trips you want to take
Books everyone should read
Best movies about animals
Funniest fictional characters
Weirdest words
Things you learned this year
Books you read this year
Reasons you can’t clean your room today
Terrible characters in literature
Places you’d like to visit
Favorite family recipes
A creative learning space is less about actual stuff and more about giving your children space to explore ideas in different ways.