5 Goal Ideas for 2023 – Working Homeschool Mom Edition

If you’re a working homeschool mom and you’re looking for some goal ideas for 2023, then this is the post for you! Obviously goals should be unique to you and your reality. That being said, these goal ideas could help to make your working homeschool mom life even more full of joy and ease in the new year!

How to Set and Achieve Your Goals

Before we get into some goal ideas, it’s important to talk about how to set and achieve goals. It’s all very well having big, bold, beautiful dreams. But without a game plan, they’ll stay just that – dreams. So let’s break down this goal-setting game plan.

1. First you need to identify what your goals are. You could do this with some stream of consciousness journaling, or by figuring out what your values are.
2. It’s always a good idea to run your goals through the SMART metrics. Is the goal specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound?
3. Once you’ve got some goal ideas, you want to break them down into smaller chunks. This is going to make them much easier to achieve!
4. Then you need to figure out what practical steps you need to take to achieve them. And you need to write those steps down and schedule them in, so that you can tick them off.
5. Something that helps lots of people to achieve their goals, is accountability. You could ask a friend or you could book in some coaching sessions with me.

Goal Ideas in Action

Let’s look at an example of what this would look like. I’ll use the example of finding a new job in 2023.

1. So you’ve decided you want a new job. And you’d like one that aligns to your values of spending more time with your family. This means it needs to be remote and flexible. And it must pay you what you’re worth.
2. When you write out the goal, it might look something like this:
   • I want a job that I can do remotely, that requires only 20 hours a week, that I can do at any time during the day, and which pays me $25 an hour. (specific)
   • To find this job, I will join at least 3 Facebook groups for information, contact 10 companies a week and send out 5 resumes a week. (measurable)
   • As I’m qualified in the fields of customer service, marketing and sales, I’ll look for jobs that align to my experience and qualifications. (achievable)
   • Where I work is very important to me, so I’ll only contact companies that align to my values. (relevant)
   • I’ll find a job by the end of February 2023. (time-bound)
3. By using the SMART metrics on your goal ideas, you’ll already be able to identify ways to break them down into more manageable steps. In this case, it will be joining Facebook groups where you can get information about potential companies. And also contacting companies and sending out resumes.
4. Now you can create practical steps to take. You can schedule in time every day to take those steps. And you’ll be able to list them and tick them off, which is always satisfying!
5. If you need accountability, you could check in with someone daily or weekly to report back. Sometimes just sending an emoji to show you’ve done your tasks for the day, can help loads! It’s light but effective pressure and support to contact potential employers and to get that job. And if you’re feeling low, it’s also great to have someone to talk to about it.

Goal Ideas for Working Homeschool Moms

From all the working homeschool moms I’ve spoken to, time is always an issue. So the goals I’m going to suggest, will help you to make the most of the time you have. And more importantly, to have time for what you love!

1. Simplify Your Life

Simplification is definitely a goal that I’ve set for myself. I’ve done a lot in 2022, but I’d like to do even more in 2023. If this is something that you’d like to do, I have some ideas for you.

• Decluttering is a great place to start. It can be an overwhelming thought, but remember to break it down into small, manageable steps. You could do 10 minutes a day, to start with.
• Find the easiest way you can to homeschool. If homeschool planning, prep and activities are stressing you out, nobody is going to enjoy them. You can homeschool very effectively in a slow, gentle and simple way.
• Be crystal clear about what’s really important to you. In this way, you can set boundaries and let go of things that don’t serve you anymore.
• Much like homeschooling, meal times and household chores can be done simply and slowly. With a little planning and organization, you can find ways to save loads of time and stress for you and your family.

2. Have More Joy in Your Life

Is there such a thing as too much joy? I think not! This is a good goal for anyone and everyone, I believe! There are lots of ways to add more joy to your life. Below are a few that I’ve thought of…

• Schedule in time every day or week for things you love doing. Make the time non-negotiable, like any other appointment or task.
• Prioritize yourself, as much as everyone else in your family. It may be tough at the beginning, but it will get easier with practice.
• Set boundaries around your energy and time. It’s hard to find joy if you’re just giving and giving. Once again, this might take some practice to get used to.
• Spend quality time with friends and family. It’s often not easy to find time, but simple activities can often be the most wonderful. They require less energy and planning and can be so rewarding!

3. Take Care of Yourself

Self care should be a priority as a working homeschool mom. As our schedules fill up every day, we’re often at the bottom of the list. But trust me when I tell you, this isn’t sustainable!

• If self care is something you struggle with, start really really small. But try and be consistent! A few minutes of quality me-time every day is better than nothing at all.
• Schedule time for yourself. When you put something in your planner and calendar (in pen or marked as busy), you show your commitment to it.
• Take care of your physical health too. Regular checkups, eating well and exercising improve your quality of life. It’s hard to feel joy when you’re not feeling 100%.
• Try and rest as much as possible. It’s easy to get sucked into the cult of busy. But it does nobody any favours! Rest is so important for mental and physical wellbeing.

4. Learn Something New

You might feel like adding something extra to your already full schedule, is not a goal you want to even consider. I hear you! But, I promise you that there is so much to be gained from learning something new. And it can help to make your life better too!

• If you’re in a job you hate, than learning something new could be your ticket out of it. Just be sure your motivation is really strong and that you have the energy to see it through. And find a timeframe that works for you.
• Learning something new can bring lots of joy! See above! This year, I want to learn to do something with my hands. I love the idea of making something, just for the sake of making it. I’ve heard from others that it’s really relaxing and therapeutic. Yes please!
• As a homeschooler, you have an excuse to learn new things. And it can be a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your kids.

5. Be Kind to Yourself

Let’s make 2023 a year of accepting and loving ourselves. Are you in? This is something that many people struggle with, me included. But it takes away so much pain and heartache. So how can we do this?

• Practise your growth mindset. When things don’t go as planned, as often happens, using a growth mindset can help you to be more understanding and accepting towards yourself. And it can also help you to find positive elements and growth opportunities in negative situations.
• Surround yourself with people who support you. Having people who can be cheerleaders for you, helps so much when you’re feeling like a failure. Let them show you what acceptance looks like.

What Are Your Goal Ideas for 2023?

Let me know what your goals are for 2023. I would love to hear all about them! And as I said, if you ever need support with setting and achieving your goals, please reach out to me.

Follow me Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more homeschool shenanigans, advice and resources. And please book in a coaching call with me if you feel you need some extra support or encouragement.