How to Adjust Your Homeschool Routine When Seasons Change

It always happens around January.

The Christmas lights come down, the house feels quiet again, and suddenly I realize—we’re not the same family we were in September. The kids have grown, our lessons move faster, and the rhythm that once fit so well feels a little snug.

That’s the beauty of homeschooling: we get to pause and realign. January is the perfect time to adjust your homeschool routine and make space for the season you’re in now—not the one you started in months ago.

So, let’s pour another cup of tea and talk about how to gently refresh your days for the second half of the school year.

If you’re new to this series, you might enjoy starting with "From Schedules to Rhythms: Finding Peace in Our Homeschool Days”and “Flexible Homeschool Routine: Finding Peace When Life Gets Messy.”

Why January Is the Perfect Time to Adjust Your Homeschool Routine

There’s something about the turn of the calendar year that invites reflection. The rush of the holidays has settled, the newness of curriculum has worn off, and everyone knows what to expect.

By midyear, most kids have mastered their current rhythm. Lessons that once took an hour now wrap up in half the time. Reading feels smoother, math facts come more quickly, and even transitions flow better.

That’s a good sign—it means your children have grown into the routine you built in the fall. But it also means it might be time to stretch it a little.

When our routines no longer challenge or inspire, they can quietly start holding us back. Taking a few days in January to adjust your homeschool routine can breathe new life into your days, giving everyone a sense of renewed purpose.

Step 1: Reflect Before You Revise

Before you change anything, take a quiet moment to reflect on the first half of your year.

Ask yourself:

• What worked beautifully this fall?

• What felt heavy or rushed?

• Where did we find joy?

• What do we want more—or less—of?

I like to jot these thoughts in my planner or the reflection section of my Design Your Daily Routine Workbook. Writing it down helps me see what’s truly working instead of making changes out of frustration.

Sometimes you’ll find that small adjustments—like shifting one subject to a different time of day—make all the difference.

Step 2: Recognize the Growth That’s Happened

Kids grow in skill and stamina without us even realizing it. What felt hard in September is often second nature by January.

When we come back from Christmas break, I always notice my kids are working more quickly and confidently. They’re familiar with their books, comfortable with expectations, and ready for more independence.

That’s a cue that it might be time to adjust your homeschool routine to reflect their growth.

Maybe it’s letting an older child start their morning work independently. Maybe it’s adding a new subject of interest or giving them a say in the day’s order. Growth invites new responsibility—and that’s something to celebrate.

Step 3: Simplify Before You Add

When the year resets, it’s tempting to fill every blank space with something new. But I’ve learned that peace often comes from subtraction, not addition.

Before you add new activities or programs, look for areas that could be simplified.

• Are there lessons that could be shortened or combined?

• Could Fridays be lighter to give everyone margin?

• Is there something you’ve outgrown that can be set aside?

A good homeschool routine adjustment doesn’t always mean more—it often means refining what’s already working.

Step 4: Reevaluate Energy, Not Just Time

In January, the days are shorter, and energy can dip for both moms and kids. I used to keep the same fall schedule, only to find myself dragging by midafternoon.

Now, I look for energy patterns instead of clock times. Mornings tend to be focused, afternoons slower (time for a nap), and evenings quieter. So we lean into that.

Maybe that means saving hands-on projects or read-alouds for later in the day, when everyone needs something gentler. Adjusting your homeschool routine to match energy—rather than time—brings more peace than any perfect schedule could.

Step 5: Invite Your Kids Into the Process

When my girls were younger, I made every change myself. But as they grew, I realized how valuable their perspective was. They often saw things I didn’t—like when math felt easier after snack time, or how morning reading helped them stay calm before harder subjects.

Ask your kids what’s working for them this year. You might be surprised by how thoughtful their answers are.

When they help you adjust your homeschool routine, they take ownership of it. It becomes our plan, not just mom’s plan.

Step 6: Give It Time

It takes a few weeks to settle into a new rhythm. Be gentle with yourself during the transition. Try one or two changes, not ten.

I like to think of January as a soft reset, not a restart. You’re not beginning again; you’re building on the foundation you’ve already laid.

And if something still doesn’t fit after a few weeks, that’s okay. Adjust again. Flexibility is one of the greatest gifts of homeschooling.

A Final Word of Encouragement

If your homeschool feels different this January, that’s because it is. You’ve all grown, learned, and changed since the fall. The structure that once fit perfectly might now feel a bit small—and that’s exactly how growth is supposed to feel.

So pour another cup of tea, take a deep breath, and look over your days with fresh eyes. You don’t need to overhaul everything. You just need to make a few thoughtful tweaks to bring your rhythm back into balance.

And if you’d like a gentle guide to walk you through it, download my free

Design Your Daily Routine Workbook

Grab it!

Download Here

It will help you reflect on your current season, refine your anchors, and create a plan that fits the new rhythm your family has grown into.

Because peace doesn’t come from starting over—it comes from learning how to adjust your homeschool routine with grace.

Arika