A homeschooling mom’s self care rhythm: a treat for each day

A Homeschool Mom’s Self-Care Rhythm ~ Written by Kara Fleck

My word of the year last year was HOME. However, just a few days into the year and my resolution to focus on home and DO ALL THE THINGS started to make me feel overwhelmed and discouraged.

A quick look at my daily bullet journal entries showed me that I was focusing on some wonderful things for our household, worthwhile pursuits, but I was leaving something out: caring for the caregiver. ME.

I wear many hats: teacher, mother, wife, writer, caretaker, among others. My children are in sports, clubs, and other activities. I babysit several days a week. I have a feeling many of you can relate to this and feel perhaps as spread thin as I do.

I don’t do any of these jobs well when I am run down and exhausted. I spent a good part of last year running on empty. By about August, I was pretty resentful and just plain burnt out.

I don’t like feeling that way.

Here’s the thing though: I’m blessed to be in a place in life where there are things within my control  – things that I can change that directly affect my level of emotional and physical well-being. For the most part, I set my schedule. Everyone is not so lucky in their circumstances.

This year, my word is EDIT. I’m editing my schedule to include a little bit of pampering into my weekly rhythm. I’ve had success with this in the past and I think it is worth revisiting.

A Homeschooling Mom’s Self-Care Rhythm: A Treat for Each Day of the Week

Here is the schedule that I’m trying on for size this year:

Self Care & Pampering Rhythm for the Week

Monday –  SLEEP IN

I’ve dreaded Monday mornings ever since I was a kid. So this year I’ve given myself permission to sleep in on Mondays and start the week slowly, easing into it.

Even if I naturally wake up early (I woke up at 5:30 on the morning I’m writing this) I allow myself to linger in bed for a while, in no rush to start the day. Sometimes I even go back to sleep for a little while.

Tuesday – READ ALL DAY

Obviously, I have homeschooling and household obligations, so it isn’t really “all day” but I’m making a focused effort on Tuesdays to be reading in all of my spare moments. Time spent with a good book replenishes me.

Sometimes, however, I feel like all I ever read are homeschooling books, blogs, and magazines.  So I’m making a focused effort to make sure some of my reading is just for me.

Wednesday – GO TO BED EARLY

Wednesday evenings are our busiest of the week, but as soon as the kids’ activities are done for the day, this mama is tucking herself in for an early bedtime. I may be an early riser, but the flip side of this is that naturally I’d fall asleep by 8:30 pm every evening if you gave me a chance.

Once a week, I give myself that chance.

Thursday – TV KNITTING

Again, I have obligations during the day, and I certainly knit other days of the week. But on Thursdays I dedicate my free time to knitting while watching something that makes me happy.

Right now that is old episodes of Somebody Feed Phil.

Friday – FRIDAY NIGHT NEST

I’m bringing back our tradition of movies, games, or puzzles on Friday nights.

This started many years ago when my oldest was a toddler and we would make a “nest” of blankets and watch a movie together while we waited for my husband to get home from working his second job (Christopher worked nights at a home improvement store for a long time early in our marriage).

That habit continued for years, then sort of went by the wayside as the kids got older and schedules changed. I’m working to make this a regular part of our weeks again because it was one of my favorite things.

Saturday – SPA

This is the day for all of those homemade beauty masks, long bubble baths, pedicures, and hair treatments that I love and collect but never take the time for.

Sunday – SOCIAL MEDIA SWITCH OFF

I anticipate being the least successful in this one, as I do love my Instagram and YouTube, but every week is a new chance. The fact that I feel resistant to it probably means I need it.

I’m going to keep trying until a Sunday Switch Off is a natural part of my weekly routine.

There you have it, my plan to give myself a little something special every day of the week.

Each of these ideas is simple, but gives me a little boost and something to look forward to. I hope you’ll consider doing the same!

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