Mastering Your Time: Creating Consistency as a Microschool Builder
Posted on March 24th, 2025 by Makenzie Oliver
Welcome to a fresh start! As we dive into this new season, I am beyond excited to share a powerful series focused on creating consistency, setting priorities, and structuring thematic days around your life as a teacher, parent, and microschool builder. Managing a microschool is an incredible gift, but how do we manage our time and energy effectively? Let’s explore the foundational principles of time management and how you can gain control over your schedule.
The Shift From Traditional Education To Microschool Leadership
For years, working in the traditional school system meant my schedule was dictated by bells, meetings, and pre-determined lesson plans. Now, as a microschool founder, I am in charge of my time, my curriculum, and the way my days flow. This shift required a new approach to scheduling, balancing home life, professional responsibilities, and personal well-being.
To help you take control of your time, I’ll walk you through practical steps that I have implemented to create a structured yet flexible weekly routine that aligns with my personal and professional goals.
Step 1: Understanding Your Priorities
Before diving into schedules, it’s essential to identify your key priorities. These will guide how you allocate your time. Grab a piece of paper and create three columns:
Home Responsibilities – What needs to be done for your household? (Meal planning, cleaning, laundry, family time, etc.)
School Responsibilities – What are your essential school-related tasks? (Lesson planning, parent communication, curriculum development, etc.)
Personal & Professional Growth – How do you invest in yourself? (Exercise, quiet time, learning, financial planning, etc.)
Taking time to outline your responsibilities allows you to see where your time goes and identify areas where you can streamline or delegate.
Step 2: Creating Thematic Days for Efficiency
One of the best strategies I’ve implemented is thematic days—assigning specific themes to certain days of the week to stay organized and productive.
Mondays: Lesson Planning & Admin Tasks
Tuesdays: Marketing & Outreach 1.
Wednesdays: Creative & Content Work (Curriculum, School Events, etc.)
Thursdays: Field Trips & Enrichment Activities
Fridays: Reflection & Wrap-Up (Student Progress, Financials, etc.
This approach removes decision fatigue, allows for consistency, and ensures every major area of responsibility is addressed weekly.
Step 3: Structuring An Ideal Weekly Schedule
Once you’ve categorized your responsibilities and set thematic days, it’s time to map out your ideal week. Whether you use a paper planner or a digital calendar, setting clear time blocks for tasks ensures you stay on track. Consider:
Morning Routines: Start your day intentionally with quiet time, journaling, or planning.
Work Blocks: Schedule deep-focus sessions for lesson planning, content creation, and administrative tasks.
Breaks & Family Time: Ensure your schedule allows for movement, self-care, and connection with loved ones.
End-of-Day Wrap-Up: Review the day, set priorities for tomorrow, and transition out of work mode.
Step 4: Adjusting for Flexibility and Growth
No schedule is perfect, and seasons change. Be open to revisiting your ideal week plan every quarter. Life’s demands shift, and flexibility ensures long-term sustainability.
For example, in the early years of my microschool, Fridays were for field trips, but as our school grew, Thursdays became our dedicated outing day to allow for a smoother transition into the weekend.
Step 5: Outsourcing & Delegation
Recognizing that you can’t do everything alone is a game-changer. As my microschool expanded, I started outsourcing tasks like bookkeeping, marketing, and cleaning to free up more time for strategic growth and personal well-being.
If you feel overwhelmed, consider hiring help for:
Administrative support (email management, scheduling, etc.)
Teaching assistance (lesson prep, student supervision)
Household tasks (cleaning, meal prepping)
Taking Action: Final Thoughts
To start implementing these strategies, follow this simple action plan:
Brain Dump Your Responsibilities: List everything you manage at home, in your school, and in your personal life.
Assign Thematic Days: Organize your week with recurring themes for clarity and efficiency.
Map Out Your Ideal Week: Create a visual representation of your daily schedule.
Identify Delegation Opportunities: What tasks can you outsource to free up your time?
Commit to Reviewing Your Plan Weekly: Adjust and refine your schedule as needed.
Join the Microschool Masterminds Community
If you’re looking for hands-on guidance and a supportive community, Microschool Masterminds is the place for you! Inside, we provide:
Live coaching sessions
Time management modules
Downloadable planners & templates
A private network of like-minded microschool builders
Final Thoughts
Your time is your most valuable asset. By creating intentional schedules, setting priorities, and implementing structured routines, you can transform your microschool journey and personal life.
Take charge, get organized, and watch as you create a life and business that aligns with your purpose. I’d love to hear how this process works for you—share your insights in the comments of our Facebook group or inside our Microschool Masterminds community!