Embracing the Holiday Schedule as a Creative + 50% off Etsy Quickstart Guide

Published:
November 25, 2019

Abby Banks

Contributor:
Abby Banks

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

If you’re a creative, then homeschooling allows you to embrace a flexible schedule during the holidays. You can even change up the kids’ requirements and allow them to explore some of their hobbies and passions while you do the same! Here are 4 reasons why this is a good idea and a 50% off coupon to help you get started.

Embracing the Holiday Schedule as a Creative text with image background of a coffee cup and yarn

Making time for creative work is restorative

All work and no play does not contribute to a healthy balanced life. Creativity is part of self-care, and the holiday season is a great time to change your routine up a bit to allow that balance.

Most of us homeschooling moms have been working hard since September anyway, so you’re due for a break. Making time for creative work will help prevent burnout!

For homeschool moms, this might be allowing yourself the extra time during the holiday season to revisit your creative hobbies – whether you sew, knit, crochet, paint, sculpt, craft, decorate, or bake. I’m sure I missed a few in this list, but you get the point!

Making time for creative work models a balanced life to your kids

My children have all memorized a poem in first grade from the First Language Lessons curriculum. Maybe yours have learned this too? It goes like this:

Work

By Anonymous

Work while you work,

Play while you play,

This is the way to be happy each day.

All that you do,

Do with your might;

Things done by halves

Are never done right.

While it’s a cute children’s poem, it does have some deep truths for homeschool moms! When you’re trying to do it all, you won’t be successful with it all. And it’s perfectly okay to take some time to “play.” 

Making time for creative work allows you to still be productive

So instead of tackling the normal subjects and tasks each day (for you AND the kids), change things up a bit while still being productive. Take a half day or a full day (or a week!) off of your usual routine and allow each child to pursue creative work.

This is a great time to allow the kids to explore different mediums so they can find a creative outlet that they really enjoy. Online art lessons make a great option during the holiday season, as do YouTube videos that can walk your kids through cooking, drawing, and crafting. It’s also fun for kids to create handmade gifts for friends and relatives.

Here are some fun kits for kids on Amazon if you don’t want to come up with the projects yourself.

 

And for moms:

 

Making time for creative work can help you jump start a business

And the best part of making time for creative work is that it can help you jump start a business that will continue on through the year! But sometimes you just need the dedicated time to get it started – dedicated time that isn’t distracted by your normal homeschool schedule.

Why should you want to start a business? Well, if you have a creative hobby that you love anyway, it provides a great outlet for you to practice self-care while at the same time making money. Studies show that 2/3 of homeschool families are living on one income (I can relate!), so starting a creative business on the side can provide enough extra money in the family budget to pay for homeschool supplies or a family vacation, or big goals like an adoption. That was my big why for starting an Etsy shop in 2012.

But maybe the entrepreneur in the home is actually your teenager! Then the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas and into the New Year are an excellent time for them to have some extra space in the schedule to pursue their passions. And I’ve helped dozens of teens start online businesses and make money on the side.

One tool to help you (or your teen) start a handmade business is the Etsy Quickstart Guide. You can save 50% on my Etsy Quickstart Guide.  It is a straightforward, step-by-step guide that will help you get an Etsy shop up and running in no time. There are lots of screenshots to help walk you through the process. 

Etsy Quickstart Guide workbook cover

This product was included in the 2019 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle by Ultimate Bundles!

Here’s what one creative had to say about this book:

My husband read it all in one setting (which is pretty remarkable – he is not a very big reader!!). He said it was just so compelling he couldn’t stop! He said he loved it. It was simple, to the point, and not written too technically. He said, “I hate it when folks are redundant or super detailed in articles. She covered every question I had. She also included personal stories and inspiration. The length of the book was good, too. I was surprised how she so cleverly explained the technique of photo shooting. So helpful.”  Thank you SO much for offering this to us, Abby. It really did give him the confidence to feel like it really can be done. (J.F.)

Learn more at 4onemore.com/shop

Etsy Quickstart Guide workbook cover

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