[Back to School | Step 1]Your Gentle August Reset: How to Start Planning the Homeschool Year With Ease

There's something about August that feels like you're standing in the two worlds at once.

On the one hand, you might be sitting at a beach or enjoying a nice swim with the family, soaking up the last rays of an easy summer evening…

…while on the other hand, you’re trying to resist the urge to reach for a planner, because the homeschool mom in you is sensing that it’s almost time to start mapping out math lessons.

If that sounds like you, let me be the first to say: you’re not behind, and you’re not alone.

August is a transitional month for many of us. We’re holding onto late summer vibes, plans for that last family vacation, and the easiness of slow mornings. But we’re also sensing a quiet nudge to start preparing for the school year ahead. It’s a shift that can feel both exciting and overwhelming.

🤔 But what if we didn’t jump straight into planners, color-coded schedules, and curriculum comparisons?

What if we gave ourselves permission to ease into it?

If that’s where you are right now, here are three simple ways to ease into the new school year - without jolting yourself or your family out of summer mode.

1. Give Yourself Permission to Start Slow

Last year, I remember pulling out my homeschool planner on August 1st, determined to get everything “locked in” for the year. I had a million tabs open as I researched curriculum, planned around our co-op schedule, and utilized ChatGBT to help me lesson plan. 

Within a few hours, I was mentally drained. I wasn’t excited anymore…I was just plain exhausted.

That was when I realized: the school year doesn’t have to start with a sprint, like it does for traditional back-to-school.

One of the gifts of homeschooling is the freedom to move differently. We’re not on anyone else’s clock! We get to choose a gentler, more grounded pace that honors our family’s actual needs and our own capacity.

So instead of getting caught up in the back-to-school frenzy happening all around us - the school supply sales, the tax-free weekends that bring out all the crowds, and the panic to get everything “right” for your kids before the first day of school - let’s instead try something simple:

Take a breath. Sit with a cup of coffee. Step outside for a walk. 

And then ask yourself…

• What do I want more of in our homeschool this year?

• What do I want less of?

• How do I want to feel as a homeschool mom this season? 

This exercise isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about starting from a place of reflection instead of reaction.

2. Look Back Before You Look Ahead

Sometimes the best roadmap forward is written in the rearview mirror.

So take a few minutes this week to jot down what actually worked last year and what didn’t.

• Did your kids thrive with hands-on science?
• Did a 4-day week help everyone breathe easier?
• Did you try to do too much and burn out by November? (and yes, this one is me 🙋🏾‍♀️🥴)

I’ve found that when we skip this step, we end up recreating the same stress in a new season. But when we pause to reflect, we can make intentional choices that lead to more ease, more connection, and more joy.

You don’t need a spreadsheet or a fancy system. Just grab a notepad and write two quick lists:

1. Wins from last year (what worked?)
2. Lessons learned (what didn’t?)

These insights will serve as your guideposts when you’re ready to plan more intentionally later this month.

3. Reimagine Your Rhythm

Before you dive into detailed schedules, take a moment to dream up a rhythm that feels aligned with your current season of life.

• What does your family need more of right now: Structure? Flexibility? Space to slow down?
• Are your kids early risers, or do they thrive with a later start?
• Do you want more “white space” or free time in your day for rest, unplanned walks, or creative projects?

Your rhythm doesn’t have to look like last year’s version, and it certainly doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s.

This year, our family is leaning into a rhythm I call “mornings for the mind, afternoons for the heart”. In practice, this might look like:

☑️ Mornings: structured academics (and work for me! 🙋🏾‍♀️) 

☑️ Afternoons: reading, cooking, running errands, and pursuing our passions like art, dance, and sports.

The key is this: your homeschool rhythm should support your life; it shouldn’t work against it.

So What's Coming Next?

This post is the first in a 4-part series to help you return to homeschooling with clarity, confidence, and calm. So here’s what’s next:

➡️ Week 2: We’re exploring how to set a homeschool vision that reflects your family’s values, not just academic benchmarks.

➡️ Week 3: Choosing the right learning resources without overwhelm.

➡️ Week 4: Exploring how to create a schedule or rhythm that truly works for your real life, not just your Instagram feed.

💡Remember: we’re not rushing. We’re grounding ourselves.

And that, Bestie, is the most powerful way to begin. 💪🏾

🫵🏾 Now It’s Your Turn: Reflect + Share!

Take 10–15 minutes to reflect on what you want out of this homeschool year (not what you feel like you “should” do).

Then take a moment to write it down or take a photo that represents it.

Write it down. Tape it to your fridge. Journal about it. And feel free to share it to your stories on Instagram and tag me so I can cheer you on! 🥰