Is A Homeschool Schedule Really That Different From A Routine

I probably don’t need to convince you that a routine or schedule will help your homeschool. I am guessing that’s why you are here. Maybe you are looking into homeschool schedules versus routines, and you are curious about what the actual difference is. Honestly, they are not that drastically different.

 

For whatever reason, you might could use a bit more help in the structure, planning, or organizational department.

When things get a little wacky in life, and you feel unorganized, it is incredibly beneficial to take some extra time, help, or resources to get the train back up on the rails. Am I right?

So DO NOT feel bad about where you are, instead let’s focus on where you are going! I love the quote “You get what you focus on.” by Chris Hutchinson – It’s simple, yet super impactful!

If we want to be more structured, organized, or plan well – we need to focus on that. Feeling guilty, comparing ourselves to someone else, or self-loathing will not get us to where we want to go.

But the bottom line is that we all could use a routine or homeschool schedule for so many reasons.

• Consistency – We can’t cultivate consistency if we don’t have a plan.
• Minimize the Chaos – As homeschool moms, most of us have multiple children at home, and we need some level of structure to maintain a healthy homeschool.
• Sanity – We all feel better when our homeschool is running successfully.
• Joy – Our homeschools are healthier when we have a level of structure, and things are well planned. We can create more margin for family and fun.
• Confidence – We are more confident when we have a plan in place. We also feel better when our spouses are confident in our ability to keep the home and homeschool running smoothly.

These are just a few of the results we will feel when we are using a solid routine or schedule that compliments our homes and our families.

Now that we have that out of the way…

Let’s Chat Homeschool Schedules Vs. Routines

I am going to be brief because I have worked with so many homeschool families when it comes to planning – every single routine and schedule varies from family to family.

Don’t worry about the label of what you are creating. Is it a schedule, or is it a routine, really doesn’t matter.
Let’s create what works for your family.

However, the short explanations are this:

Routine: A routine might look like what you do each week consistently. The general outline of structure of each day. For example, each Monday might look similar, or each weekday morning you might follow the same set of “to-dos.” A routine can be flexible and customized to your homeschool and lifestyle.

rou·tine
[ro͞oˈtēn]
NOUN
a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.

Schedule: A schedule is more like a timeline of events you will do and might look different each day. A schedule could look the same each day, but you are structuring your day to align with times. For example, you might want to start math each day at 9 am and follow with time slots for each subject. This works well for people who can stay on top of time. However, be careful if you easily get stressed out by sticking to exact times. You can quickly feel defeated if you begin to fall behind schedule. Not to scare you away from a schedule, but I like to be realistic.

sched·ule
[ˈskejəl]
NOUN
a plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times.

Rhythm: Lately, in the homeschooling realm, we hear a lot about rhythms. A rhythm is more like a guide. It flows naturally with your home and lifestyle. You might create a rhythm around different variations of the seasons. It is just a more natural routine that flows with your everyday life and for many may be more relaxed. For example, you may have a general rhythm for your weekdays or mornings, but you also appreciate the opportunity to stop and read a book to your toddler when they ask.

rhythm
[ˈriT͟Həm]
NOUN
a strong, regular, repeated pattern.

I hope this encourages you to create whatever days, weeks, and monthly plans work best for your unique family – regardless of what you call it! If you would like to learn tips for creating margin in your homeschool plans, check out the course below.

Additional Planning Resources:

Use Coupon Code PLAN for 50% OFF Our Homeschool Planning Workshop

 

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