Homeschooling Through the holiday season

Homeschooling Through the Holidays: 7 Tips for a Stress-Free Season

Last December, I hit my own personal rock bottom. The stress of the holidays combined with personal challenges I’d been wrestling with all year resulted in me being hospitalized for half the month at a local behavioral health center with a brand new psychiatric diagnosis. It was a humbling and painful experience, but it also taught me a lot about what’s truly important and how to approach this busy season with more grace and intention.

This year, my focus is on protecting my mental health while still honoring the season. As a homeschool mom, it can be so easy to feel overwhelmed by the demands of teaching, preparing for the holidays, and keeping family traditions alive, but I’ve learned that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful! Here are my best tips for balancing it all while staying sane.

1. Connection Over Perfection

The most important lesson I learned from last year is that time with loved ones is the only thing that really matters! The holiday season is all about creating meaningful moments with the people you love, not how many crafts you completed or how perfectly you wrapped the gifts.

This year, I’m focusing on traditions that bring my family closer together without adding unnecessary stress. One of our favorites is a quality-time advent calendar. Each day, we do something simple like making hot chocolate, cutting paper snowflakes, or attending a local parade. I try to make these as easy as possible!

2. Simplify Your Homeschool Plan

Homeschooling during the holidays doesn’t have to be overwhelming. I’ve learned to scale back and focus on the basics during this busy time.

        •Stick to Essentials: On busy days, we focus on just math, language arts, and handwriting. Homeschool does give you the option to take a couple weeks off around the holidays, but I prefer to stick to our normal routine most of the year!
        •Incorporate Holiday-Themed Lessons: This year, we’re using an advent storybook with 25 Bible stories leading up to Christmas. It’s a beautiful way to learn about the reason for the season while simplifying our schedule.
        •Replace Subjects with Festive Activities: Instead of geography or science, we bake cookies, craft gifts, and learn about the history of Christmas in the month of December. These activities are just as educational - and so much fun!

3. Involve Your Kids in Holiday Prep

One way to reduce stress is to make holiday prep a family affair. My kids love decorating the house (anyone else need a reminder to let go of perfection while watching your kids decorate?? ), and I’ve found that involving them in tasks like cleaning up or gift-wrapping not only lightens my load but also teaches them valuable life skills.

I think it’s important for kids to learn how to work for someone else’s needs and not just their own. Whether they’re baking cookies for neighbors or wrapping gifts for family, these moments help build character and create wonderful memories.

4. Protect Your Mental Health

Last December was a tough reminder of how critical it is to prioritize my mental health. This year, I’ve set some non-negotiables to protect my peace:

        •Take Medication Daily: It’s a small step that makes a big difference in my ability to handle stress.
        •Set Boundaries: Sometimes I put on earplugs while I’m doing the dishes or take a quiet break to recharge. My kids understand, and it models self-care for them.
        •Avoid Comparison: Focusing on what’s important to my family helps me let go of the pressure to keep up with others or make everything picture-perfect.
        •Establish Screen Time Boundaries: Use your phone intentionally by setting daily screen time limits and unfollow or mute whoever you need to in order to protect your peace.
        •Exercise Daily: It is a nonnegotiable for me to exercise 5-7 times a week because my mental health is notably improved when I am more active!

5. Plan for Flexibility

Even with the best intentions, some days (or weeks) won’t go as planned—and that’s okay. When things go off track, I start fresh by writing down my priorities and focusing on what truly matters. One thing I love about homeschool is that there is room for flexibility, and if needed we can take a couple of weeks off from it! We can and do use that to our advantage.

6. Celebrate Small, Manageable Traditions

We’ve learned to treasure the small, simple traditions that are easiest for us to maintain. Some of our favorites include:

        •Gifting pajamas on December 1st
        •Gifting books on Christmas Eve
        •Attending free local events, like parades or tree lightings as part of our quality time advent
        •Baking and decorating a gingerbread nativity

These simple traditions bring us so much joy without adding unnecessary stress.

7. Let Go of Guilt

One of the hardest but most freeing lessons I’ve learned is to let go of guilt. I don’t have to do everything, and that’s okay. It helps me to know that our brains are neuroplastic, meaning they have the ability to change and adapt throughout our lives. This means it IS possible to heal after trauma, for both your brain and your child’s, but it may take a little work in some cases. Just know that every effort you make towards being a good mom goes a long way!

It also helps to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. When I think back to last year, I treasured every moment I had with my family after being apart from them, and being together mattered even more than the things we missed out on!

Homeschooling and preparing for the holidays can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. By simplifying where you can, involving your family in the process, and prioritizing your mental health, you can create a season that’s meaningful without the stress.

If you’re struggling to balance it all, remember this: your presence matters far more than any tradition, perfect craft, or spotless home. Focus on what brings you and your family joy, and don’t be afraid to give yourself the grace to let go of the rest.

I hope these tips help encourage you to approach the holidays with peace and purpose. If you have your own favorite tips or traditions, I’d love for you to share them in the comments—let’s navigate this season together!