How to Balance Rest, Productivity, and Connection
Navigating the Last Weeks of Pregnancy, Homeschool, and Business
Are you balancing pregnancy, homeschooling, and real life right now? If so, you’re not alone. At 36 weeks pregnant, I’m living in that delicate dance between rest, creativity, and connection. Some days I feel so bone-tired that I can barely move, yet I’m bursting with ideas and dreams for my home, my kids, and my projects.
There’s bread rising on the counter, dishes waiting to be washed, and little voices calling for my attention. It’s chaotic, tender, and deeply sacred—all at once. This season isn’t perfect, but it’s mine. Here’s how I’m navigating it all, and I hope you’ll find something here to support your own journey.
Oh but before we start, I have a gift for you… I’ve created a really pretty printable journal with reflective questions to help you explore your own balance of rest, productivity, and connection. It’s free to download—just click here to download it.
Side Note: This blog is the topic of Episode 2 of Wild Mother’s Way podcast! You can find it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or just click here to listen.
Finding Rest Without Guilt
At this stage in pregnancy, feeling bone-tired is completely normal. Your body is working so hard, and rest is essential preparation for transformation—not laziness. I’ve had to remind myself of this often because, like many of us, I struggle with feeling “unproductive” when I rest.
Here’s what’s helped me embrace rest, even when the to-do list feels overwhelming:
Micro-Rests: If I can’t take a full nap, I recharge in smaller ways—10 minutes of quiet breathing while the kids color, or a few gentle yoga stretches to release tension.
Gentle Reminders to Slow Down: I ask myself, "Do I need to do this now?" If the answer is no, it can wait.
Nurturing Rituals: A cup of herbal tea, a cozy blanket, and a few minutes journaling are little gifts I give myself.
When exhaustion feels overwhelming, nature becomes my sanctuary. A short walk in the woods or sitting in the sun while the kids explore has a way of grounding me. I also lean on connection—heartfelt conversations with my partner, cuddles with my kids, or a quick call to a friend refill my cup in ways nothing else can.
Rest, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, is an act of grace. It’s about honoring where we are, trusting our intuition, and letting connection and nature carry us through.
Balancing Homeschool While Pregnant
Homeschooling while pregnant might sound like a juggling act (because it is). But breaking my day into flexible time blocks has been a game-changer. Here’s our current schedule:
7:00–10:00 AM: Personal Time. I enjoy my coffee, write, shower, stretch, or dance. The kids play, and we aim to have breakfast made and cleaned up by 10:00 AM.
10:00 AM: School Lessons. We spend 15–30 minutes on each subject, depending on the day. Here’s what that looks like:
Handwriting: We use a Waldorf-inspired guide I created, blending handwriting practice with drawing or painting. At the end of the year, they’ll have a sweet journal of their progress. (I’ll link this guide below—it’s free to download!)
Math: I split time between my two daughters, tailoring lessons to their needs.
Reading and Language Arts: If the kids are still engaged, we tackle this next; if not, we take a break first.
Noon: Outdoor Time. We break for lunch and spend an hour or more exploring outside.
Afternoon: We do a science lesson together, then the kids have free time for crafts, music, or play while I work during my office hours.
This flexible flow has been a breath of fresh air. It’s far less stressful than pre-made curriculums or online programs, which I’ve found to be either overstimulating or disengaging.
Instead, I’ve personalized our curriculum to meet their unique needs while covering essential concepts. Here’s how I approached it:
I reviewed the common core standards for Grade 1 for my younger daughter and Grades 3 and 4 for my older daughter.
For Science, we do combined lessons and experiments tailored to their levels.
For my younger daughter, we focus on reading using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
For my older daughter, I created combined lessons for Language Arts and Math, ensuring she’s catching up on key concepts from years of worldschooling.
In addition to academics, I encourage music exploration (currently harp and piano), and my older daughter is working on her entrepreneurial project—a YouTube channel where she reads children’s books aloud. Check it out here.
Channeling Creative Energy
Late pregnancy has a funny way of opening the creative floodgates. I’ll feel too tired to fold laundry but suddenly be bursting with ideas for recipes, craft projects, or business ventures. Here’s how I’ve been navigating this paradox:
Capturing Ideas Without Pressure: I jot down ideas in my notes app as they come, whether for a blog post, recipe, or creative project. (Bonus points if I organize them into Google Docs the next morning!)
Combining Creativity With Family Time: My kids and I bake bread or work on crafts together. It’s a way to nurture creativity without adding to my workload.
Letting Go of Perfection: If I’m writing, painting, or experimenting, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s about the joy of creating, not the outcome.
Balancing My Office Hours
When it comes to work, I aim for two hours of focused office time each day. Sometimes I get more, sometimes less. My goals during this time are:
Staying Organized: Sorting through ideas and managing tasks keeps me moving forward.
Brain Dump Writing Sessions: Letting ideas flow often turns into drafts for my book, notes for my course, or inspiration for Wild Mother’s Way.
Focusing on One Major Project: I dedicate time to one big goal—whether it’s my book, online course, or creating content for Wild Mother’s Way.
It’s not a perfect system, but I’m always making progress.
A Gentle Reminder for You
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, tired, or unsure of how to balance it all, remember this: you are enough. Your body is doing something extraordinary. These final weeks are messy, beautiful, and transformative. You don’t have to do it all perfectly—you just have to be present, trust your intuition, and show yourself grace.
Let’s support one another in this season. Share your thoughts, tips, or just how you’re feeling in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.
And don’t forget to grab the free handwriting guide here and printable journal prompts here. I hope they bring a little inspiration and ease to your journey.
We’re all walking this path together, one step at a time.
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