Use Winter Break to Catch Your Breath & Prep for Next Semester
When winter break rolls in, I’m usually running on pure fumes.
I want to sleep in, set the grading aside, and drink my coffee while it’s still piping hot (and not from the third time I’ve reheated it in the microwave).
And that rest matters. Our bodies need it — and we need to model it to our kiddos.
But I’ve also learned that taking a couple of days at the beginning of break to reset our homeschool helps me to rest better. When those loose ends are tied up, I don’t spend my “rest” time thinking about all the things I “should” be doing.
If you’d rather spread these tasks out over the break, that works too. They’re easy to tackle in small chunks.
Tackling this list over break also means we can start the next semester strong. Instead of dragging first-semester problems along with us, I can step into the new year clear-headed, realistic, and ready to make necessary changes.
I know, I know. Who wants to do more work instead of resting? I get it. This list, though, isn’t about being hyper-productive, knocking out a massive backlog, or impressing the super Type-A crowd.
And you don’t need to do all of these. Even tackling a few can make a difference in your January.
I promise. Keep reading!
1. Choose a book or creative project.
5-15 minutes
There’s importance in just being. Even if you resist the “Wow, you’re so busy. You are a super mom.” culture, it can still be hard to just be. And that’s why I’m putting this task at the top of the list. We need it. Our bodies need it. And our families need it for us.
Having an activity (or two) chosen gives me the encouragement I need to keep going, even though I really just want to relax! I received Make Map Art from a friend, and I can’t wait to give it a whirl.
Any book. That book you keep telling Libby to ‘deliver later.’ A children’s book you’ve been meaning to read for…decades. A beach read. A cookbook. Travel guide. Audiobooks are a great choice, especially if you’ll be in the car a lot over your break. Whatever. Just choose a book.
I’ve recently learned how to knit & I’m ready (I think!) to start a bigger project, a scarf.
Maybe it’s been years since you picked up a pencil and sketched what’s in front of you.
This doesn’t have to be some ultimate project or the thing you want to do “most.” Just pick something.
The easiest way to feel ready for winter break?
This simple 10-task checklist helps you prep what matters ahead of time — so you can actually rest all break instead of mentally planning January.
2. Finish your paperwork/records.
30-60 minutes
I don’t grade schoolwork in the early years. But once high school starts…
I’m not good at staying on top of grading. Or paperwork in general, frankly. One way I’ve improved over the years, since my first kiddo started high school, is this exact task. I set a timer each week to grade work, and at the end of the semester, I set a timer and update paperwork for just that amount of time.
I learned my lesson. When my oldest was in high school, I procrastinated & procrastinated. At first, it was partly because I didn’t know what I was doing & partly because I felt like I had all the time in the world. Then that feeling came to a crashing halt.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out these posts for help on….
3. Put away first-semester materials.
10-20 minutes
Go through your kids’ books and your own and cull out items that you won’t need for the next semester. Store them if you’ll need them later, or get them ready to sell if you won’t need them again.
And while you’re doing that, send them to clean out any bags from co-op, dance class, martial arts, etc.
4. Evaluate the first semester.
20-40 minutes
As we go through our days, it’s easy to notice that something isn’t going well, but following through on that doesn’t always happen. Or sometimes we know things aren’t going as smoothly as we would like, but we don’t take the time to pinpoint what exactly is wrong.
That’s where a mid-year evaluation comes in. Set your second semester up for success by asking yourself these ‘how is it really going?’ type of questions.
5. Do a thorough cleanup.
30-60 minutes
Dust, vacuum well, sort through papers (and deal with them!), and take stock of supplies. Look for misplaced library books. Turn on a wintery educational show while you work, enlist your kiddos’ help & get busy. Enter January with everything as fresh as the beginning of the school year!
Prep January now. Rest all of winter break.
A simple checklist for homeschool moms who want second semester ready now — so break can be for resting, not worrying.
6. Order curriculum and supplements.
20-60 minutes
If you have anything that needs to be ordered or purchased, do it now. It’ll have plenty of time to arrive and give you a chance to be fully prepared before school starts back.
7. Create your reading list.
20-60 minutes
What books do you need for next semester? Even just creating a list & gathering the books for your first six weeks back will help you avoid ending up behind before the new semester has barely begun! I know it’s a lot of work to create it all at once rather than doing it as you go. It is so nice, though, to have it done.
Did you know your library may offer an option that lets you set up your list & then wait for your holds to come up automatically when you need them?
8. Update your calendar.
20-75 minutes
My calendars tend to operate on the semester. If I’m not intentional about it, I’ll enter January with not a thing showing on the calendar…but with plenty of commitments jumbled in my head.
- Scan your emails for appointment emails
- Add new classes or activities
- Block off a couple of Saturdays for family fun (Get the time set aside, even if the actual dates change.)
- Same with a few evenings for date nights, dinner with friends, etc.
9. Plan a few field trips.
40-75 minutes
Choose a couple of places, figure out the details, and pencil them into your calendar.
If you have to change the dates later on, at least you already have the rest of it planned. I am not very consistent at taking field trips, but if I at least have them down on paper from the beginning, I’m much more likely to follow through!
Field trips are best in person, of course. But if you can’t do that, check out these virtual field trip ideas.
10. Rest.
as much as you can
Whatever that looks like for you & your family, take plenty of time to do that. Get outside, do your project from task #1, watch movies, play games, eat good food, solve puzzles, laugh.
Do a little now. Rest a lot later.
Use this short, doable checklist to get second semester ready before break starts — even if you’re mentally exhausted and not sure where to begin.
About Tricia
Tricia is a 40-something mom to three. She loves Netflix, people, and laughter. And she firmly believes that homeschooling should include all three.
After years of ‘doing life’ — homeschooling, military life, homemaking — like others, she’s charting her own way… and loving it!
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