Outsource Your Homeschooling to Save Your Sanity!

I’m going to share a little homeschooling tip that has been critical for my well-being.

Outsourcing.

I promise you, outsourcing is a total game-changer.

It has seriously saved me from many a nervous breakdown over the past few years.

Because let’s face it, homeschooling can feel pretty overwhelming sometimes. And if we’re not careful, burnout can take us down before we have a clue what’s happened.

Outsource your homeschooling to save your sanity.

I think you’ll agree that the following can get pretty old, pretty fast…

Lesson planning every single weekend.

Prepping everything needed for science experiments.

Furiously taking notes, highlighting, making copies, stapling…

Ugh.

I get anxious just THINKING about all of these responsibilities. It feels frantic and exhausting and in NO WAY sustainable.

This, my friend, is a recipe for BURNOUT.

Sure, you can manage all of this short term, but long term, you will CRASH and BURN, no doubt about it.

And this is why I want you to outsource.

Outsourcing will save your sanity. It is one of my tried and true, go-to methods for avoiding burnout.

Because I’ve been knee-deep in the burnout stage. More than once, in fact. And I REALLY want you to avoid the mistakes I’ve made!

Here are 6 practical steps to help you get started with outsourcing.

#1: Make Your “Bare Minimum” List

First, take 20 minutes or so and brainstorm the subjects you want to cover this year.

Then go a little deeper and identify the areas that are THE MOST CRITICAL to you. Your non-negotiable areas.

Now write out a rough draft of this “Bare Minimum” list. Nothing fancy. Using a crumpled up sheet of paper or a typing a note on your phone are perfectly fine.

Here is an example in case you are stuck:

• 45 minutes of daily focused math time.

• 30 minutes of daily reading instruction.

• 30 minutes of daily writing. 

• Regular daily household responsibilities.

• History and/or Geography twice a week.

• Science once a week.

Now, please understand that this is just an example. Your list might be shorter or longer and may very well include different subjects.

Keep this as simple and realistic as possible.

But what about art? And music? And a foreign language!?!

Deep breath. Easy does it.

I understand the panic you might be feeling. Really, I do.

It is so easy to get swept up in the frantic fear of missing something. Of our child being left behind.

We have the best intentions. With our lofty goals and packed agendas. We are going to cover SO MUCH this year and go to SO MANY PLACES! We are going to DO IT ALL!

Bless our ambitious little hearts.

But I also know that when we cram our schedules full of every possible subject we can think of, we are trying to build something completely unattainable. We find ourselves exhausted and overwhelmed.

In trying to cover EVERYTHING, we aren’t able to cover ANYTHING.

So while it might feel counter-intuitive at first, I encourage you to focus on the bare minimum.

This doesn’t mean you can’t supplement with more when your time and energy allow. It just means that you are starting off with realistic expectations.

Through identifying your bare minimum, you are giving yourself the space to feel successful and build on this solid “bare minimum” foundation.

And believe me, this beats feeling frazzled and inadequate any day of the week!

This is the ideal foundation to build your outsourcing on.

#2: Decide What You Want to Outsource

Second, look over your “Bare Minimum” list. Do you see areas that you know you really WANT to outsource? 

Does the thought of teaching science overwhelm you?

Do you long for someone to teach your child math?

Are you desperate for a way to introduce your child to a foreign language?

Decide which subjects you would like to outsource.

#3: Brainstorm Ways to Outsource

Third, identify simple ways to outsource the subjects you’ve identified. 

If teaching science overwhelms you, do you know another homeschooling family who would be interested in meeting up weekly for science? This way you can share the labor of prep and implementation.

Or maybe you are part of a co-op and another parent is excited about teaching science.

Perhaps you have a neighbor, grandparent, or friend who would love to teach your children science once a week.

The same possibilities also apply for math, foreign language, and any other subject you are eager to outsource.

You get the gist; identify those areas you really want to outsource and brainstorm ways to make this happen. 

Additionally, there are countless opportunities to outsource in other creative ways.

Here are some examples:

• Audio Books – Tired of reading aloud to your children? Need something else for your kiddos to do? Try audiobooks!

• Documentaries – Netflix, YouTube, Discovery Streaming, the list of incredible documentaries is long and comprehensive. 

• The library – Get to know your librarians. Ask them about free local and online opportunities. I am constantly amazed at the abundance of FREE resources available.

• “Group Work”- Collaborate with friends to write stories, work on movies, research projects, etc. Using Google Docs is a wonderful way to do this when you’re unable to meet in person.

• Sports – Both of my children participate in team sports throughout the year. They have learned the importance of cooperation, good sportsmanship, and strong leadership qualities.

#4: Teach What You Enjoy 

Next, think about what subjects you enjoy. What hobbies and passions pique your interest?

Let your enthusiasm for these subjects carry your energy here. These are the areas you might prefer NOT outsourcing.

For example, I love history and geography. LOVE! I enjoy the entire process of researching related resources and learning alongside my children.

These are areas I have no desire to outsource because I genuinely enjoy them.

Now I have friends who are the complete opposite. They don’t find the research and implementation of history and geography to be enjoyable AT ALL. For them, outsourcing these subjects is a wonderful way to take the drudgery out of teaching subjects they have no interest in.

#5: Let Your Kids Take the Lead

Additionally, spend some time where your kids list all of their interests and what they want to pursue. Can they teach you something? Choose their own materials to use? 

#6: Have Plenty of Independent Materials Available

And finally, always have lots of interesting educational materials available. These are around for your children to pick up and explore on their own, whenever the desire strikes.

 Art materials, board games, puzzles, books, audio books, documentaries, egos… the possibilities are endless.

The important thing is that you don’t FORCE them to engage. You simply have these materials AVAILABLE so they are easily accessible when inspiration strikes.

Simple Ways to Outsource:

• Online courses.

• In-person classes.

• Homeschooling co-ops where different parents teach different classes.

• Getting together with another family or families and sharing prep work and teaching.

• Recruiting a friend/neighbor/family member who is excited to teach a specific subject. 

• Local group boards advertising specific skill sets. 

• An older homeschooling student who needs volunteer hours.

• Local Junior College classes. At our local junior college, kids are able to enroll in classes beginning in middle school.

Ways I currently Outsource or Have Outsourced in the Past:

• Math: My kids both use Live Online Math. This leaves me with ZERO math prep work and planning. I am simply available for support as needed.

• Nature Science Class: This is a weekly class that exposes kids to various natural environments and wildlife in our area.

• Science with Nana: My mom has taught my children science off and on for several years. Her background as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and her volunteer work within our community provides a rich science education for my kids.

• Japanese School: My kids attend Japanese Language School through our local JACL, (Japanese American Citizens League) once a week.

• Model United Nations: Weekly, in-person class, lasting 10 weeks, that both of my children attended. It ended with a one-day conference at a local college. 

• Public Speaking: For two years my kids participated in a public speaking class with 10 other children.

• Online writing classes: We’ve used a couple of different vendors over the years.

• “Team Taught” various subjects with another family. These included science, creative writing, and poetry.

• A friend who is an accomplished artist offered an art class for a small group of kids.

As you can see, there are countless ways to outsource your homeschooling. And remember, this is all about saving your sanity and creating a vibrant and sustainable homeschooling experience.

So, are you ready to outsource!?!

To recap, here are your steps:

#1: Make Your “Bare Minimum” List

#2: Decide What You Want to Outsource

#3: Brainstorm Ways to Outsource

#4: Teach What You Enjoy

#5: Let Your Kids Take the Lead

#6: Have Plenty of Independent Materials Available

I only have one regret when it comes to outsourcing. That I didn’t start when my kids were younger!

I mistakenly thought I should be able to DO EVERYTHING when it came to homeschooling. And this is simply not true. 

Because while the benefits of homeschooling are rich and abundant, we can’t expect to do everything on our own.

So I encourage to outsource your lil’ heart out! I’d love to know what resources you discover and what you choose to use.

Happy Outsourcing!