The Live The Adventure Letter 
If you’ve been homeschooling for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that homeschool burnout is a real thing. During certain seasons of the year, we’re even more prone to it. The post-holiday winter months leading up to spring break can be some of the hardest, most vulnerable times when many of us, parents and kids alike, seem to suffer a bad case of homeschool burnout.
What does homeschool burnout look like? Here are just a few of the common signs and symptoms:
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Frequent or constant frustration
- Feelings of depression and anxiety
- Irritability
- Feeling a lack of purpose
- Forgetting “why” you chose to homeschool in the first place
- Considering putting the kids in school next year
- Feeling like a curriculum or method isn’t working
- Urge to buy “better” homeschool materials
- Lacking confidence in your schedule, methods, abilities
- The “need” to compare your kids accomplishments/abilities to their peers (public, private, and other homeschoolers)
- Chasing the little yellow school bus down the street…
We all have bad days, even in the strongest families homeschooling under the very best of circumstances. Experiencing these signs and symptoms from time to time is completely normal. It’s when those feelings move from “once in awhile” to being a regular or daily battle…
The truth is, no one is immune to burnout. From the newest homeschooler to the most veteran homeschool mom, we’re all prone to it. Most of the time homeschool burnout happens when we have unrealistic expectations, lack routine, or become too busy with outside activities. Likewise, becoming too isolated without enough interaction with others, or failing to take care of ourselves can cause a severe case of burnout.
New Audio Adventure Tells The Story Of Loyalty, Perseverance and Sacrifice
How To Overcome Burnout
- Prayer
Like most problems in life, the #1 weapon for fighting homeschool burnout is prayer. You simply must take time each day for prayer. It’s your firm foundation and your strongest weapon. Does prayer feel too overwhelming? That’s okay. I’ve been there. God doesn’t need fancy prayers or platitudes. Simply pray, “God, I’m weary. Please help me.” Keep pressing forward, even with that simple prayer, day after day, and God will be faithful. He has never left you, nor forsaken you. He won’t start now.
- Get a buddy.
Talk to another homeschool mom. Call a friend or a spiritual mentor. Odds are, they’ve been right in your shoes and can lend some good advice as well as a listening ear.
- Get outside if you can.
I realize climates vary all over the globe. Winter here in my world is pretty mild, and in other areas, it can be downright impossible to get outdoors. If you can get outside, even for just 5-15 minutes a day, it can help. Fresh air and sunshine is good for the body and the soul. If weather allows, go for a little walk – exercise is a bonus!
- Look closely at your schedule.
Are you too busy running from activity to activity? If so, find some margin in your day to just “be” at home. Likewise, are you too isolated? Do you need to get out and interact with some people? In my own life this is one of the areas where I’ve really allowed myself to slip into burnout mode.
- Take care of you.
Like the saying goes, Mom must first put on her own oxygen mask before putting one on her children. You simply must carve out time for self-care. It’s extremely important. Now, I’m not saying go schedule an expensive spa day you can’t afford. (You probably don’t have time to pull it off anyway!) Instead, find small ways to include self-care into your daily routines. A mid-afternoon cup of coffee or tea, a hot bath, or 10 minutes of reading can go a long way to helping you get back on track. Perhaps you need to take some time for quality time with your husband.
- Revisit academics.
Perhaps you really have taken on too much academically and that’s why you’re feeling the crunch. Admit defeat and move forward. You are not married to your curriculum. Sometimes, especially with young children, less is more.
I’m not saying stop doing school by any means – but how can you take some of the pressure off? Enjoy a field trip. Read aloud together. Listen to that Audio Adventure again, for the hundredth time…it’s perfectly okay! Do some fun activities, crafts, and projects to remind yourself and the kids why you’re living the homeschool lifestyle in the first place.
Most of all, remember… this is just for a season. Suffering from homeschool burnout is normal. It’s not a sign of failure and it’s definitely not the time to give up and throw in the towel. Keep pressing forward knowing you are giving your children a wonderful Christian education.
New Audio Adventure Tells The Story Of Loyalty, Perseverance and Sacrifice
OH MY GOODNESS!!! this is invaluable information. I have been teaching our children at home for 13 years. We have 5, and I have been through every stage of burn out mentioned here. All of these suggestions have weight, and I truly believe that we will all go through seasons of exhaustion, therefore we need to revisit these suggestions over and over again! Thank you for this article, I will repost to my Facebook for others!
I agree with your ideas! I would also add reading Scripture to renew your mind and being a part of a small group with
other women. Whether it’s a co-op or Bible study, I think home school moms are far too isolated and the loneliness is
a great discouragement. I have been home schooling for 5 years, and I added that to my schedule this year, and it has
helped greatly.