{"id":116216,"date":"2020-04-06T14:07:12","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T13:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusme.com\/?p=116216"},"modified":"2025-02-07T12:45:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T12:45:15","slug":"how-work-at-home-homeschooling-parents-can-stay-sane-during-this-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/how-work-at-home-homeschooling-parents-can-stay-sane-during-this-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"How Work-at-Home (Homeschooling!?) Parents Can Stay Sane During This Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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It is an uncertain scary time we are living in – shelter-in-place orders around the globe, schools closed, people sent home from work, and a dangerous virus travelling around the planet. It\u2019s just an unprecedented time…<\/p>

And, for some of us – we\u2019re trying to keep up with work, home, children, and our children\u2019s education <\/em>at the same time in the same home. Day after day after day.<\/p>

It\u2019s nearly impossible! And enough to cause parents to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and just beside themselves\u2026<\/p>

But today we want to share with you some sanity-saving strategies to cut down the stress by at least half as soon as you implement them.<\/p>

Download this article as a PDF<\/a><\/h2>

#1 Lower Your Standards<\/strong><\/h2>

This could go without saying, but you might not have realized it yet. Because life got crazy.<\/p>

But it\u2019s time to lower your standards in the home, of yourself, of your partner, and of your children.<\/p>

What this looks like practically is letting the house get messier than usual and letting meals be simple. You can sweep the floors less often, eat rice and beans for lunch, serve a simple pot of oatmeal for dinner, and focus on connection to your loved ones instead.<\/p>

Trade out the stress about household cleanliness for sitting down to read a book to your child. Connecting with your family in a loving way matters more right now than keeping up the standard of how you are used to living.<\/p>

It\u2019s a different time.<\/p>

At the same time, if you\u2019re on edge and easily irritated, be compassionate with yourself. Understand your humanness, and let it be okay. You do actually love your family members, but you\u2019re stressed. Every day is a new day and you can start over anytime.<\/p>

Speaking of your partner and children, are you sort of on top of each other constantly now, in the same house, isolated, and social distancing? That. Is. Hard. <\/em><\/p>

But it will be less challenging for you <\/em>when you decide to be kind to your family members. This means treating them with respect and patience. Lower your standards of what you expect from them, and be more flexible. Try to understand what life is like for them.<\/p>

Lowering your standards as much as you can automatically reduces tension because you\u2019re choosing to be okay with the pandemic messy life you get to live right now. Accept reality and find more peace instantly.<\/em><\/p>

#2 Create Your Daily Rhythm<\/strong><\/h2>

You have to have a rhythm to the day, because the opposite of rhythm is actually chaos. Sorry to break it to you!<\/p>

But you can make your rhythm, or schedule, work for your family <\/em>instead of it becoming a self-imposed pressure-filled prison. No – don\u2019t do that!<\/p>

Here\u2019s an example of a simple doable rhythm to keep your family flowing with the days ahead:<\/p>