Homeschool Tidbits: Tips to Overcome the February Blahs
February 23, 2024
Welcome to Build Your Library’s Homeschool Tidbits: Episode 67 – Tips to Overcome the February Blahs. In this weekly video series, I will delve briefly into a topic related to homeschooling and will share some of my knowledge and expertise as a long-time homeschooling mother of 4 children. Three of whom have graduated high school, and one who is a college graduate!
What is it about February that feels so dreary? Every year, I begin January feeling refreshed and excited, and then a few weeks later, boom. I’m bored, not keeping up with my goals, and just want to dropkick our whole house into the sun.
Over the years, I’ve learned ways to cope with the February blahs. I’m sharing this today, primarily for myself, to remind myself that February will end soon, and things will start to feel better. But in the meantime, here are some tips to help you get through this trying time.
Embrace a Change in Scenery
If you, like me, start to feel stir-crazy in your space this time of year, try to get out of the house. Take a few field trips to the library or a local museum, and if weather permits, even just going for a walk or a hike can make a big difference.
If lots of outings aren’t possible, try changing your space. I’m not talking about a full-on renovation, but sometimes, just reorganizing your kitchen can be the refresher you need. I’m currently working on cleaning off and reorganizing my bookshelves – it’s a huge undertaking, but it’s just the project I needed to spruce up my space.
Make Learning Fun!
I state this with mild trepidation – but add some fun into your homeschooling. I think Instagram would have us believe that homeschooling is SUPPOSED to be fun. But let’s be honest, it isn’t always. Sometimes, it even feels a bit like drudgery. Math, history, science, reading, repeat. Blah.
So why not jazz it up a bit? I’m not talking about throwing out your whole routine in exchange for brand new curriculum. But you can add some art, a fun unit study, a new science experiment kit, or even a fun board game! And I’m betting you already have everything you need to spice up your school day in your house right now. We all have a stash of “fun” school materials that we always meant to use but somehow forgot about. Pull that stuff out and use it!
Take a Break!
If the blahs have hit you particularly hard, what you really need is a break. Sometimes, we just need to rest and reset. Read that stack of new books you bought, introduce your kids to your favorite movies, put on music, and have a dance party. Or take a nap. By the way, this is just as important as the other things I mentioned. Because if you overplan your break with all of the fun things…are you really taking a break? The break needs to benefit you just as much as it does your children if it’s going to help you rest and reset.
Don’t forget to take care of YOU
Which leads me to my last tip – self-care. While self-care is always important, I think it’s the most important in February. This is when we need it the most. But it’s when we’re the least likely to remember to take care of ourselves. We’re so busy taking care of everyone else that we sometimes forget that we need to be cared for too. When you prioritize your own well-being, you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges of the February Blahathon. So whatever self-care means to you – whether it’s planning a full-on spa day or just going to Target alone, make time for that. Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential.
While February can be a challenging month for homeschooling families, there are many ways to combat the blahs. Just know that you are not alone – we’ve all been there. I promise that spring is just around the corner, bringing sunny days and hopefully sunnier dispositions for all of us.
Coming up next…
I hope you found this Tidbit helpful! Come back next week for more homeschooling inspiration!
Until then, happy reading!
See Other Related Articles:
- Happy, Hygge Homeschooling?
- “Are worms made out of metal?” And other great rabbit trails.
- Charlotte Mason in the Secular Homeschool
- A Literary Education book
- About Build Your Library
- Homeschool Tidbits: Build Your Library’s Weekly Video Blog Series
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Emily Cook is the author and creator of the secular homeschool curriculum Build Your Library, a literature-based K-12 program infused with the teachings of Charlotte Mason. She writes full-year lesson plans as well as shorter topical unit studies. Emily has been homeschooling her four children in Southern NH for 21 years. She is passionate about reading aloud to children of all ages and loves sharing her love of literature. She and her family also make incredibly dorky videos about homeschooling, books, and more on YouTube at ARRRGH! Schooling. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also check out her author page on Amazon.
