As a homeschool mother of nine, the question I heard most often was, “How do you do it all?” My youngest graduated in 2018, but the lessons I learned over three decades of homeschooling are still just as true today. I discovered that successful time management has little to do with perfection—it’s about extending grace, setting priorities, and shaping a rhythm that fits your unique family. After years of trial and error, here’s what truly worked for me.

Start with Your Foundation

 Nothing I accomplish happens without God's grace. Before my feet hit the floor each morning, I pray and surrender my day to Him. My simple routine: let the dog out (my daily prompt to look up at the sky) and give my day to God. Starting with the right priorities makes everything else fall into place.

When you put God first, you're not just managing time—you're stewarding the gifts He's given you.

Get Organized (It's a Journey, Not a Destination)

I wasn't born organized—I learned by necessity. Organization isn't about having a Pinterest-perfect home; it's about reducing stress and creating systems that serve your family.

The year I started homeschool we went to the library every week and I found The Messies Manual. The tips in that book and similar ones that really helped me. 

Essential Organization Tools:

• Daily lists: I keep ongoing lists for everything—homeschool tasks, groceries, household projects
• Simple scheduling: Basic routines for housework and school that flex with real life
• Decluttering regularly: Less stuff means less to manage

The goal isn't perfection—it's progress. I'm still learning to be more organized, and that's okay.

Homeschooling with Purpose

My homeschool goals come from God, not state standards. Over the years, I've moved from rigid scheduling to a more relaxed approach focused on what matters most. 

When I began homeschooling with four school-aged children and a toddler, I made a huge mistake. I tried teaching six separate subjects at four different grade levels. It was absolutely exhausting. By the second year, I discovered unit studies and started teaching Bible, history, and science to all the children together. The younger ones didn’t understand everything, but they absorbed the basics, and that was enough.

Our Daily Priorities:

1. Bible first (always, never let fear of doing enough make yo leave off the most important))
2. Math fundamentals
3. Phonics and reading skills
4. Reading aloud together

Farm life, play time, and missed school days? They're all learning opportunities. Don't let perfectionism steal your joy.

Master the Art of Delegation

From Laborer to Manager

When my children were toddlers, I used to joke that God should give us extra hands for each child. Then I realized, He did! We just need to train them.

I did everything myself when the kids were young, then gradually assigned age-appropriate chores. When my daughters married and moved away, I hired weekly cleaning help until we could afford it. Now I'm back to doing it myself, but with decades of systems in place.

Remember: You're not just managing a household and you're training future adults.

Fuel Your Body Right

You can't run on empty. God designed our bodies to thrive on real food—fruits, vegetables, whole grains. I gave up sugar, white flour, and most processed foods years ago. My daily green smoothie gives me sustained energy for the long homeschool days (bonus, most people say I don't look 70. years old). 

Cooking Ahead Strategy:

My daughters and I cooked ahead using the methods in 30 Meals in One Day

• Bulk cooking and freezing meals. 
• Weekly salad prep for easy daily access
• At least three pre-made meals in the freezer at all times

Healthy eating has to be convenient, or it won't happen consistently.

Time Management That Actually Works

Daily Habits:

• Make tomorrow's list tonight: Know your most important task before you wake up
• Get up early: Follow Jesus's example—rise "a great while before the day"
• Multitask wisely: Listen to Bible studies while cleaning, help with reading practice while cooking
• Use waiting time: Always carry a book or notepad

Technology Tips:

When I started homeschooling in the 80s, the educational landscape looked completely different. There was no internet to search for lesson plans, no smartphones to quickly look up answers to curious questions, and no streaming services with endless educational content at our fingertips. Instead, I had to carefully watch TV schedules, hunting for educational programming to record on our VCR for later viewing.

Every week, we made our pilgrimage to the local library, returning home with a laundry basket overflowing with books—our treasure trove of learning resources. We relied on tangible resources, physical books, and recorded shows, building our education one carefully curated piece at a time.

Today's digital tools make information instantly accessible. My two younger boys were born around 2000 so we had Internet when they were school age. What a gram changer. 

• Consider dual computer screens (20-30% productivity boost)
• Use online tools like Trello for project management
• Use the Internet to chase rabbits and make learning fun. I recall a lesson on China leaning to a the Silk Road, how silk is made and so much more. 
• Utilize Canva or Photoshop for your children’s reports to create polished, professional-looking layouts. You can design report covers, add charts or photos, and use creative templates that make their work stand out while still being easy to read.

Boundary Setting:

• Learn to end phone conversations politely
• Compare weekly task lists with your spouse
• Be prepared with books or writing materials wherever you go

Support Groups

• We were in so many local support groups I had to limit them. We were on a 3-4 field trips a week. Lots of fun but they can be overdone. 
• There are so many support groups on line now. You are blessed! Sharing struggles and encouragement in a safe space brings comfort, strength, and the reminder that you’re not alone.

Laundry Baskets

I always had several extra laundry baskets around—not just for clothes, but for quick clean-ups. I used them a lot: 

• Quick room clean-up sweep

• Toy wrangler at day’s end

• Homeschool book/supply holder

• Tote for car trips/field trips

• Seasonal gear bin (hats, gloves, flip-flops)

• Guest-ready clutter catcher

• Chore game with kids

When You Don't Get It All Done (And You Won't)

Here's the truth: I didn't get everything done. Some days I was overwhelmed. We ate fast food more than I'd like. The laundry piled up often. Life happens.

When I start "walking in the flesh" (as my children would say, "Mommy's being crabby"), I know I need to get back into God's Word. Prayer and Scripture are the only things that reset my heart and perspective.

The preventive approach: Start each day surrendered to God's Spirit. Only then will you produce the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control—regardless of what the day brings.

Working in Seasons and Bursts

Embrace Your Season

My hobbies have evolved over the years. Yes, I had time for hobbies!! I taught them to my children. My girls can all sew, smock, and bake bread. I learned Photoshop to scrapbook and then taught all my children how to use Photoshop (which came in very handy because most of them now have their own business and can make flyers, calendars, and magazines). 

Sewing and quilting gave way to writing and scrapbooking when I had nursing babies. During my daughters' teen years, they handled housework while I focused on writing projects. When I found Bible journaling I felt I found my niche. After my youngest graduated I started teaching Bible studies full time and returned to hand-quilting for relaxation.

Work in Bursts

Health challenges taught me to work when I have energy. Some evenings I'll organize entire closets or write several blog posts ahead. Don't feel guilty about rest days—save your energy for when you can truly be productive.

The Business Side (If You Have One)

After many years, I've learned to delegate business responsibilities too.Since I no longer homeschool I run Biblejournalclasses.com full time but when I was homeschooling I kept my business time to a few hours daily by working with assistants for bookkeeping, customer service, and fulfillment. Freelancers handle web design and technical tasks.

The key is gradual growth and learning when to let others help carry the load.

Remember Your Why

Most of my books were written while nursing babies, typing one-handed. I write about things I'm passionate about—not because I'm a "super homeschool mom," but because writing helps me learn, praise God, share with others, and organize my thoughts.

Whether you're writing, teaching, creating, or simply loving your family well, remember that blogging is cheaper than therapy, and your story matters.

Your homeschool journey won't look like mine, and that's exactly as it should be. Take what serves your family, leave what doesn't, and remember—God's grace is sufficient for each day.

Join the Heart of Wisdom Homeschool Facebook Group for tips and encouragement