Today, we all have many demands on our time. At home, you have family, friends, and maybe even work still vying for your attention. At work, you have your personal life, coworkers, technology, and general stuff snapping fingers in hopes of gaining your attention. But you don’t have to live like that. There are small and simple changes you can start implementing that will make significant differences to your focus and productivity at home and particularly during home school.

1. Use a Schedule

Do your best to create a schedule, especially for your home school time, that will give you a clear plan of your day and what is expected. This will allow you to move from one task to the next without having to stop and decide what to do next. Also, keep in mind that schedules are not the end-all-be-all, sometimes things change.

2. Make a Clean Workspace

Be it your kitchen counter while you are cooking dinner or your school room area, keeping a clean and tidy workspace will help clear the mental clutter as well. There will be fewer distractions and you and your children won’t waste time cleaning .  If there is continual clutter, figure out why.  Do you need all that?   Can you give some things away?  Can you file some things?   Do you need a tub for each child in which to keep their books?  Figure out a system that works for you.   A clean area is more inviting to get work done.

3. Put Blinders On

This means all the blinders. Turn your phone on silent, stop notifications, and keep unnecessary tabs closed on your computer. Technology is fantastic, but it can also serve as a major distraction throughout the day.  Stay focused on homeschool. Take into consideration how much time you spend clicking and scrolling needlessly and how it keeps you from working with your children or getting necessary housework done.

4. Let Others Know That Home School is in Session

Let others know that you are serious about home-schooling and that just because you are home, you are not available 24/7 for a chat.  Do what  you need to do to minimize distractions from other human beings.  Basically, your attitude must be, “I’m happy to help but not until later,” or “I’m sorry, I don’t have the time, our home school schedule comes first.”   You must give family and friends some clues about your schedule.  Particularly if you are homeschooling, let them know that during certain hours you are not available to chat.  You have to set limits on how much other people can take of your time.

Friends with no children or or who have children in public school must be informed about your commitment.  You have to put your children first.

5. Know Your Habits

We all have habits that dictate when we are most and least productive. Pay attention to yours and use them to your advantage.   Figure out how to use your strengths, and the strengths of your children, to make a more harmonious home school flow.   If one child likes to read, have him or her read to a smaller child.  If one likes to sharpen pencils, use that to advantage.  Use all strengths, big and small, of the whole family, to get the work done.  Home schooling is a family affair.  Plus, know when your most productive times are for planning what you need to do.  Know yourself..when to plan..when to  work…when to take a break.

Finding your work groove can be challenging; however, taking the time to make small steps in the right direction will allow you to create a workday that is productive and meaningful.