Stay Motivated!

 

"And let us not grow weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians  6:9

 

How do you keep going? How do you stay motivated?

It's hard when things get tiresome, or monotonous or downright difficult, especially when no one is looking.

It is a vital skill for every homeschooler, business owner, or really anyone with a goal to reach. 

It is easy to take off early, to prioritize other household chores or to waste too much time figuring out what to do next.

 

The self motivation that comes with homeschooling is one of the many skills that will set a homeschooler apart from the mainstream.

 

Here is what we do to stay motivated and on task. These tips will work to help you stay motivated in any situation. 

 In summary it is plan, plan, plan.

 

Plan Units:

Planning units not only helps deepen learning, but it lets you know exactly what is coming next. No wasted time!

 

Planning a unit motivates me to complete it. It works kind of like goal setting. Also, completing a unit gives me and my kids that sense of accomplishment with energy to start the next task.

Finally, when you plan out your units, you can plan to add in a bit of excitement and not make them too long or onerous.

Planning units is a big help to keep me going and keep are homeschool achieving learning goals. 

 

Plan Days and Times:

 Planning when to do school work and when to take a break insures you get the right work/life balance for your family.

 

Nothing says you have to stick to the standard Monday to Friday 9 am-3 pm schedule of mainstream schooling.  However, it is important to plan a schedule and work appropriate for that schedule and stick to it.

 

Your schedule will depend heavily on what grade level your children are working at. For most children it will be between 2 and 6 hours a day 4 or 5 days a week of dedicated school work.

 

It is  important to give your children enough work during the day so they aren't board, which will lead to depression.

 

If you can't look forward to the weekend, you are not working hard enough. 

 

Also, think about planning for breaks. Breaks during the day, as well as days off.  

 

Most school boards schedule around 190 days of school.  That is a great benchmark for homeschools as well.

 

Think about scheduling things like Christmas break, march break and summer holidays.  If taking 2 months off during winter is better for your family than summer, go for it.

 

The key is to get specific and to work hard and long enough to be able to look forward to, and enjoy the breaks that are scheduled.

 

Plan for Fun:

 Along with taking breaks, plan for some excitement in your schedule. Plan things like projects or meaningful field trips. Celebrate achievements, like the 100th school day or the end of the school year.

 

Another way to add more 'fun' into your homeschool is to incorporate the arts into your lessons.

 

Mixing art and math is an engaging way to apply new math knowledge like, angles and measurement.

 

Adding fun into the schedule throughout the year will definitely motivate you to keep going because you know there is a reward coming.

 

Knowing what to do with unit planning, being able to look forward to breaks, as well as planning for fun, helps keep me and my family stay motivated and productive throughout the school year.

 

Planning is worth the extra effort.

 

For more specifics on exactly how to plan, check out more in my planning series; 'Planning a Day', 'Planning a Unit', 'Planning a Year'.

 

And as always,