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The simple life is a life lived with a single focus. The more responsibilities a person has, the more complicated life becomes. For generations the focus for women was their families. I have often longed for the past, thinking how wonderful if we could turn back the clock to a simpler time. But, here we are, in a 21st-century world, and now most of us have at least two major responsibilities in our lives: 1) homes-families and 2) running a school. Some of us have added the responsibility of a home business. Others are involved in a ministry or a church that takes a good portion of their time. You may even be attending college, working at a job or doing something else that divides your focus.

If you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities, here is a unique schedule that you might like to try. Since more can be accomplished when you concentrate on one thing at a time, do just that. Each week will have a different focus. That week most of your activities will be related to that major area, although there will be some things that will have to be done each day, whether or not they are part of that week's focus. These daily activities will be few, and will include meals, dishes, Bible and devotions.

Week 1 Homeschooling Week.

This week, morning to evening you will focus on your children's education. You will read homeschooling books privately, plan homeschooling, set goals, monitor progress, give tests, read aloud, hear narrations, do projects, research, give your children assignments and tasks for the week(s) you will not be homeschooling. Having 'Homeschooling Week' every other week for a year would give you sufficient hours 'at task' but if your children can work independently, you could have this formal homeschooling week less often.

Week 2 Cleaning Week.

Yes you can clean for a week! I spent a whole month on our house one time! This is when you do the major jobs' appliances, walls, scrubbing and perhaps even painting and sewing for the home. See Easy Homeschooling Techniques for details on cleaning and organizing your home. See more on this book at http://www.easyhomeschooling.com/frtechniques.html

Week 3 Cooking and Baking Week

Cook one day a month for meals to have on hand for your other weeks. (See Once-A-Month Cooking by Lagerborg and Wilson, Dinner's in the Freezer! or Mega Cooking by Jill Bond for the how-tos of freezer cooking.) This can be a great timesaving activity. Although you and your family will work very hard on cooking day, this system saves a lot of time on all the other days. Another day bake several loaves of whole wheat bread, along with other breads such as muffins and bagels to accompany your freezer meals. This is the week to make some extra-special meals and invite friends to dinner.

Week 4: Business Week (or other major focus area)

This is the week you focus on your business if you have one. Read related books, work on marketing and those important extra projects you can't usually fit in. Your children will be doing independent study, helping with the business or just enjoying their free time.

Week 5: Repeat the cycle or go into another of your focus areas.

You may choose to alternate your weeks like this.

Week 1: Homeschooling
Week 2: Cleaning and Cooking
Week 3: Homeschooling
Week 4: Extra Curricular for Mom (or business activities)

Many are already dividing their days into:

Morning: Homeschooling
Afternoon: Business
Evening: Cooking, Laundry, Cleanup

Or you could divide your week:

Monday: Homeschool
Tuesday: Cleaning
Wednesday: Homeschool
Thursday: Shopping/Cooking
Friday: Homeschool

No matter what the focus of each week, never neglect responding to your children and their needs. With many responsibilities, it is even more important that we includes more prayer, Bible reading and meditation on the Scriptures. I've found that when I do this my productivity goes way up. It can't be explained. It is a supernatural law.