Simplicity Holidays ⋆ Art of Homeschooling

Episode 6

Do you sometimes wish time would just slow down? I know I sure do. Especially when my kiddos were younger during the holidays, I longed for simplicity holidays.

On homeschooling days, I looked forward to the holidays and a break from our daily lessons and activities. But then the holidays would arrive with their own busy-ness…

And after all the holidays were over, I’d feel like I needed a vacation!!!

Maybe you can relate? I’d love to share three thoughtful ideas for you to meditate on, discuss with your partner and family, and put into action to create a simpler, sweeter, more spacious holiday season.

So that you can make more room for connecting with your family and what’s most meaningful to you this holiday season.

“Beautiful holiday plans are extra simple!”

Check out the Printable Inspiration Cards

I’ve created this small set of cards specifically for this episode to remind you to keep things simple this holiday season – inspiration and quote cards to encourage you on your homeschooling journey.

Print and cut them out, keep them in your planner, in a basket on your desk, tucked in a book, or hung on your fridge.

Enter your name and email below to get the FREE cards.

3 Tips for Simplicity Holidays

Start with Your Values
Simplify Your Stuff
Simplify Your Days – your schedule and daily rhythm

“What is rare is precious.”

Tip #1: Start with your Values.

Take some time to lean into your memories and identify a “golden moment” or treasured recollection of a sweet, happy, simple time.

Can you identify a value around that experience? How can that inform you decisions as you head into the holidays?

Tip #2: Simplify Your Stuff

Invite LESS into your space. Less packages and gifts, less decorations, simpler healthy food.

“I invite you to consider the possibility that this can be a year of LESS.”

Tip #3: Simplify Your Days

Connections happen in the down time and it’s so important to make room for that in our daily rhythm during the holidays. We want to simplify our day by simplifying our schedule and daily rhythm during the holidays.

Hold onto your daily rhythms of waking, chores, mealtimes, and bedtimes.

And create space around over-stimulating activities by book-ending them with time spend in nature or cozy, unstructured time.

“Plan for chunks of time where the magic can happen.”

Mentions

Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids, by Kim John Payne and the Simplicity Parenting movement.

Here’s the quote from Mother Theresa that I keep in my planning binder: “The more you have the more occupied you’ll be. The less you have, the more free you are.”

My mentor, Barbara Dewey of Waldorf Without Walls, was my special guest on the Art of Homeschool Podcast Episode #2.

Additional Resources

You can find Gift Guides for Simple Natural Families here.

If you want to dig into this subject more deeply, check out the masterclass on Simplicity Holidays that I created with you in mind!

Six simple lessons so you plan holidays that actually rejuvenate you and your family, plus a bonus guide to planning a Winter Spiral Walk.

You can choose to get the Simplicity Holidays masterclass as a stand-alone course OR by joining the Inspired at Home membership where you also get 20+ other masterclasses, weekly group coaching calls, and planning support.

You might also enjoy….

How to Create a Simplified Homeschooling Rhythm for December

About the Podcast

The Art of Homeschooling Podcast is for parents who are ready to thrive in homeschooling. In each episode, we share stories and strategies so you can drop the overwhelm and get in touch with inspiration. You CAN create a homeschool life you love.

I’m your host, Jean Miller, homeschooling mother of three now-grown children. And here at the Art of Homeschooling, we keep it sweet and simple so you can focus on cultivating creativity and connection at home.