We have been at home for a few weeks now, settling in after COVID-19 news that staying home is important.  While the first week or so may have felt like snow days, it’s time to settle into schedules that help you stay productive and positive.  Schedules are repeated patterns that we use to empower our priorities.  Right now our priorities can be simple. We can embrace our new normal by patterning our days.

Basic concepts

Setting up your own schedule can be baffling to some. It is creating structure for yourself, which you may not be comfortable with or skilled at.  For some it’s natural to do. These basic concepts can help you craft your schedule.

• Prioritize what is most important first. Right now that is simple, that being you have work and your kids have school. First this in first to your schedule. Depending on your own work and your kids’ schools, this may set your schedule directly.
• Know your own personal strengths. Are you a morning person or not?  Take this quiz on The Power of When to know what works best. Most of us know this from all our personal experiences. Use your best time of the day to do your most important work.
• Be sure to include self care, exercise, meals, bedtimes and reset time in your schedule. These routines help us be our best selves.
• We tend to be overly ambitious about our schedules. Choose time blocks that help you keep focused and productive.  Too many time blocks and too much transition deter productivity. Use time blocking to help you create a schedule that works well. For example, choose a morning and afternoon 2 hour block rather than two one hour blocks each morning and afternoon.
• Post your schedule for everyone to know the plan for the day.  Talk about your schedule at your family meeting, emphasize the value, and keep everyone on track with clocks and timers.

 

 

Sample School for a Morning Person

Monday – Friday Schedule	Morning Person Sample Schedule
6:00 AM	Wake up Reflection time or Meditation
6:30 AM	Shower and dress
7:00 AM	Wake kids
7:30 AM	Breakfast
8:00 AM	Daily exercise/Listen to a podcast
8:30 AM
9:00 AM	Work and School start
9:30 AM
10:00 AM
10:30 AM	Break
11:00 AM	Work and school continue
11:30 AM
12:00 PM	Lunch and Break
12:30 PM
1:00 PM	Outside time
1:30 PM	Work and school continue
2:00 PM
2:30 PM
3:00 PM
3:30 PM
4:00 PM	Outside time
4:30 PM
5:00 PM	Dinner
5:30 PM
6:00 PM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM	Family time
7:30 PM	Prep kids for bed
8:00 PM
8:30 PM	Kids’ bedtime
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM	Parent’s bedtime

 

Sample Schedule for Not a Morning Person

Monday – Friday	Not a Morning Person Sample Schedule
8:00 AM	Wake up Reflection time or Meditation
8:30 AM	Breakfast
9:00 AM	Shower and Dress
9:30 AM
10:00 AM	Work and School begin
10:30 AM
11:00 AM
11:30 AM
12:00 PM	Lunch and Break
12:30 PM	Outside time
1:00 PM	Work and School continue
1:30 PM
2:00 PM
2:30 PM	Outside time and Break
3:00 PM	Work and School continue
3:30 PM
4:00 PM
4:30 PM
5:00 PM	Outside time
5:30 PM
6:00 PM	Dinner
6:30 PM
7:00 PM	Family time
7:30 PM
8:00 PM	Prep kids for bed
8:30 PM	Kids’ bedtime
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM	Parent’s bedtime

More Resources

How to Work from Home with Your Kids

CHADD Suddenly Working from Home

ADDitudemag Learning from Home Schedule

ADDitudemag Are you Corona Schooling? 

Kids Activities Blog Free School Resources

Today Show How to Home School