Simple is the New Smart with Zara Fagen, PhD

Minimalist Homeschooling is all about making things easier by making high-impact, high-value choices that are simple, easy, and accessible.  In this episode, Zara explores how seasons rule all aspects of our life, and can be used to guide our homeschools, too.  If you've ever been frustrated by the sense of constant change, or perhaps you question your own consistency or self-discipline,...

In this Simple is the New Smart episode, Zara is talking about one of her favorite Minimalist Homeschooling tools: block scheduling.  Also known as time-blocking, by block-scheduling your homeschool days can: simplify your days and schedule, increase consistency (and reduce procrastination), make your days more effective and productive, and add peace to your days. Learn what exactly a block s...

I'm going to just say it: Homeschooling is awesome.  And, we're not even talking about the lifestyle it allows.  In this episode, Zara talks about the 7 ways that homeschooling offers better academic experiences for our children, and therefore, a more valuable education.  A must-listen for anyone who ever struggles to homeschool, or is considering homeschooling.  Not only is ho...

Let's stop thinking about designing a "minimalist homeschool" today, and instead talk about crafting a "high-value homeschool," because really, that's what we're all after. In this episode of the Minimalist Homeschooling podcast: Simple is the New Smart, Zara talks about the 3 things to consider when reassessing, or planning your homeschool that will change your experience from more, and more of t...

Homeschooling multiple children - at multiple ages, with multiple preferences and talents - can be the definition of burn-out.  Often, juggling lots of kids means feeling spread too thin, and wondering whether any child is getting "enough."  This episode is all about the logistics of homeschooling with multiple children.  Zara talks about: The one tactic of Minimalist Homeschooling...

I started Minimalist Homeschooling to help prevent burn-out, by creating a sustainable homeschool.  But, what heppend when life doesn't cooperate?  What happens when we do get burnt-out, or there's a new baby, or we have to move, or tragedy strikes... or, there's an international pandemic?  In this episode, Zara chats about what works for her when she's faced with homeschooling duri...

When we choose to homeschool, it's not "just" homeschooling for most of us.  In addition to learning stuff from some books, what we're really after is freedom, and excellence - on some level that is meaningful to our families.  That means that choosing subjects isn't "just" choosing what to learn.  how can we cover all of our bases, pursue all of our passions, AND keep from feeling...

Business owners become productivity and morale experts by necessity.  In this episode, I'm sharing game-changing strategies that I have curated during 15 years of operating businesses that can up your homeschooling game, too. From getting everyone on the same team, to simplifying and having more impact, this episode has something for everyone.  Grab your coffee, and get ready to homescho...

Quality goals help give us confidence, clarity, and direction.  Without good goals, it's hard to create the life, or homeschool that we truly want.  Despite these great reasons, we often shy away from setting goals because, let's face it, they require hard work, maybe we feel like we don't have the time, or we assume that failure is inevitable for any number of reasons.  In this epi...

In this episode, Zara talks about how to declutter WITH kids.  End the persistent purging battles, and get everyone in your home on-board by creating a minimalist culture.  We will talk about specific steps that you can take, right now, to immediately, and consistently move your home, and your family toward a simpler lifestyle.  Your family may resist and resent a sudden overhaul, b...

This episode gives 3 big ways that we can win when we're scheduling our homeschools.  True to Minimalist Homeschooling, we're going to talk about simple ways to streamline, practical ways to reduce mental load (and stress), and how to create margin in our schedule.  If you're someone who would love more time to simple BE, or plan, or enjoy (who doesn't?), then this episode is for you; an...

Let's talk about applying minimalism to our time, shall we?  In this episode, Zara gives 5 powerful reasons to change how we view, and manage our time.  From the perspective of a homeschooling, business-owning mother, who has struggled with trying to do it all, feeling obligated to do it all, driving herself to exhaustion, having an over-filled schedule, and subsequently feeling overwhel...

Let's face it, homeschooling takes *STUFF* to a new level - one that combines the emotional drive to provide the "best," with pressure to do it "right," and a seemingly infinite number of resources that could potentially be "best," or "right."  This is a quintescential Minimalist Homeschooling episode: it's filled from start to finish with practical ways to cut through the homeschool clutter...

In this empowering episode, Zara talks about 9 ways that we can help reluctant learners love learning, and help ourselves love the process more.  If you have ever experienced a child who is unenthusiastic about, or refusing to engage in learning, then this episode is sure to equip you with several ideas to tip the scales toward love. Learn how to simplify your whole homeschool from top to bot...

As the world starts re-opening post-coronavirus, or even as we struggle to "juggle it all" without a sense of normalcy, here are 4 ways that we can reset our little part of the world back to a simpler time.  When you're feeling over-stimulated, over-extended, cluttered, frantic, or swept away... this episode is for you! Learn how to simplify your whole homeschool from top to bottom and from n...

This episode is all about independent learning, free time, and self-directed learning.  If Minimalist Homeschooling is all about gaining more, while doing less, then these are the secret weapons!  We'll talk about how they each differ, and the benefits so that you can add more value and peace to your homeschool right away.   Learn how to simplify your whole homeschool from top to bo...

Welcome to Minimalist Homeschooling!  I'm Zara, a homeschooling, business-owning wife and mother of 4.  In this episode, I'll tell you a bit about my homeschooling journey - especially the part of the journey that forced me to get really intentional.  Let's get this started!  Learn how to simplify your whole homeschool from top to bottom and from now on with the Minimalist Home...

If Minimalist Homeschooling sounds intriguing, or even daunting, and you'd like to know more about the philosophy, then this is the episode for you!  In it, Zara will unpack how LESS actually can be MORE and how minimalism works in homeschooling.  She's on a mission to prove that your homeschool is not about the stuff!   Learn how to simplify your whole homeschool from top to bottom...

If we're going to talk about Minimalist Homeschooling, let's have an obligatory conversation about what it's NOT.  You may be surprised to learn what is inside the Minimalist Homeschooling box, and what isn't... and just how flexible that box really is!   Learn how to simplify your whole homeschool from top to bottom and from now on with the Minimalist Homeschooling Master Class.  Y...

Welcome to the brand-new Simple is the New Smart podcast!  This is where we will dive deeper into Minimalist Homeschooling concepts, learn how to homeschool like a boss, and talk about keeping life simple.  Be sure to subscribe now, so you don't miss a thing when we launch on Octber 6, 2020!