You may take summers off from homeschooling, but that doesn’t mean your summer is suddenly stress-free. Life still happens, and sometimes, at a crazy pace! That’s why summer self-care for homeschool moms is just as important as self-care during the rest of the year.

Keep reading to discover why you deserve self-care, and how a little intentionality and planning can create self-care to nourish your mind, body, and soul this summer.

Doesn’t that sound amazing?

What Is Homeschool Mom Self-Care?

Self-care is an important wellness practice for every homeschool mom. It’s all about caring for your needs as a human being.

We are not just our roles: mother, spouse, daughter, friend, co-worker, etc. We are people with human bodies, and we must treat those bodies with TLC! 

It’s important to tend to our needs from a holistic perspective. This simply means that we are caring for our whole selves, not focusing on just one aspect, such as our physical health only.

Instead, it means that we are caring for our entire selves: mind, body, and soul.

How to Make Time for Summer Self-Care

I like to think of summer as a break from our normal school routine. I always naively believe there will be hours and hours of vacant space in my planner. After all, if I’m not spending the bulk of the day facilitating our homeschool, won’t I have hours of free time now?

The reality is: summer is one of the busiest seasons of the year! This is the season for lots of time spent out-of-doors with so many activities we want to experience. We try to cram a gazillion activities into a three-month window.

As a result, it can be hard to make time for self-care!

I struggle as much during the summer months to maintain my self-care as I do during other seasons of the year. I still have to find intentional self-care space amid a busy summer schedule.

So, what’s the best way to make time for summer self-care? Create an intentional summer self-care plan!

How to Make a Summer Self-Care Plan

A healthy homeschool mom has an intentional plan for her self-care. Without intentionality, it’s not likely you’ll prioritize your needs. They’ll be relegated to the bottom of your to-do list. When your self-care stays at the bottom of your to-do list for too long, negative consequences likely result. 

From being tired and overwhelmed, to frustrated and angry, or even suffering physical consequences, a lack of self-care is detrimental.

However, when you care for yourself well, it allows you to be the homeschool mom you want to be. This isn’t true only during the school year!

When you care for yourself well, it allows you to be the homeschool mom you want to be.

There are four basic steps to creating a self-care plan that works for you.

1. Decide to prioritize time for self-care.
2. Identify your self-care needs and goals.
3. Create a workable self-care plan.
4. Put your self-care plan into action.

Practical Self-Care Planning For Homeschool Moms

Think about how you can care for yourself well this summer. Would you like to:

• Make time for a reading routine? 
• Improve your homeschool mom mindset? 
• Find some good homeschool books for professional development?
• Go for a walk every day?
• Meet with friends for coffee?

Once you identify your self-care needs and goals, consider how you will include those in your regular summer routine. I suggest starting small with something that will be easily attainable. You’ll score a small win for yourself, and you’ll be encouraged to keep going.

For example, let’s say you identify a self-care goal to read two homeschooling books this summer. The next step is to put this into an actionable plan. 

Where in your current routine could you attach 10 minutes of reading time? Before bed? During your morning cup of coffee? Before you get out of bed and the kids know you’re awake?

Your next step is to put that plan into action. Because you’re taking small steps and connecting the new habit to something you already do, you’re increasing your chance of success.

The last step is to decide when you’re going to start and just do it. A self-care tracker is an excellent way to map out what you want to do and when. When you keep track of your goal, it’s easy to see those wins accumulate.

40+ Summer Self-Care Activities for Homeschool Moms 

I know it can be difficult to know where to start with your self-care. To help you out, I created a list of 40+ summer self-care ideas for homeschool moms (or any mom, really).

I’m sure you’ll find something here to interest you. Some ideas are simple activities if you only have 10-15 minutes. Others require a little more planning. Pick an idea or two and get started. You won’t regret it!

40+ ideas for your summer self-care:

• Relax on the porch
• Tend the garden
• Grow some flowers you love
• Go for a run
• Take an evening walk
• Sip lemonade on the patio
• Go backpacking
• Meet a friend for ice cream
• Go swimming
• Read a book outside in the shade
• Take a nap on a quilt in the yard
• Dance to music
• Soak your feet
• Learn to play tennis
• Start work with a therapist
• Go to the park
• Write in a journal
• Listen to a favorite podcast
• Drink some green tea
• Eat at an outdoor restaurant
• Try a new smoothie recipe
• Start a gratitude journal
• Implement a Bible reading plan
• Go to the farmer’s market
• Discover your Enneagram type
• Read a homeschooling book
• Go to a classic car show
• Put some potted plants inside
• Take the dog to a dog park
• Schedule a wellness visit
• Go to the zoo by yourself
• Limit/fast social media
• Go for a hike
• Go to a yard sale
• Take a mom retreat
• Start birdwatching
• Sketch in a nature notebook
• Have a BBQ with neighbors
• Invite friends over for s’mores
• Connect with other homeschool moms
• Send a card to a friend
• Take a nap
• Make your own electrolyte powder
• Keep a consistent bedtime
• Have a picnic

Want to get these ideas in a FREE printable checklist to hang on the mirror or your fridge at home? Click below to access the free PDF!

You can do this!

Conclusion

Self-care is an important part of any homeschool mom’s summer plans. As the calendar starts filling up with activities for the kids, be sure to include some regular activities just for you.

Whether it’s taking an afternoon nap, or going for a walk with a friend, being intentional in your planning is a key step towards making it happen. It will make for a happier and healthier summer for all.

How about you? Ready to take your summer self-care to the next level?