This post is from contributor Judy Hoch. Originally published Aug. 2013.
If you’ve been homeschooling for any length of time, you have probably experienced a season of burnout. Many (if not all) homeschool moms will deal with times when pressures build and enjoyment of homeschooling wanes.
So what exactly is homeschool burnout? Just as each person is an individual, so homeschool burnout can take on many forms for different people:
- feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and exhausted
- lacking interest in anything related to homeschooling
- discouragement over what seems like failure in homeschooling
- desperately needing some time away from lessons and projects
- feeling like homeschooling is a burden that must be endured
If you are in the midst of one of those trying homeschool seasons, take heart. Remember that seasons come and seasons go, and brighter days are just ahead.
Three Ways to Overcome Homeschool Burnout
1. Take a break from homeschooling.
One of the best things to do when you feel burned out is to step away for a while. Take a week or two completely off from homeschooling, if you can.
If you can’t take time off due to state requirements or other situations, cut back to the basics and eliminate the extras. A week or two spent focusing on only the three R’s may be just what you need to refresh and get you back into your homeschooling groove.
2. Change your normal routine.
If you can’t take a complete break from homeschooling, find some ways to change your normal routine. Are you normally textbook-oriented homeschoolers? Try taking a few field trips or spending time on interest-led learning at the library. Do you usually spend hours on creative projects and hands-on learning? Give you child a few worksheets to complete independently instead.
Think creatively and find simple ways to get away from your normal homeschool routine. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that breaking the boredom will rejuvenate both you and your children!
3. Carve out some “mom time.”
Sometimes the root of the burnout problem is not actually homeschooling itself–it’s simply that mom is overtired and needs some rest and relaxation.
Most homeschool moms are wearing an incredible number of hats these days: chauffeur, laundress, housekeeper, baby tender, gardener, nurse, teacher, and the list goes on. We pride ourselves on juggling our myriad responsibilities, but sometimes we just need to recognize that fact that we are human.
Throw away the to-do list for a few days, and instead take some time to read a book or go shopping with a friend. Enlist your husband to give you an evening off, or trade an afternoon of baby-sitting with another mom. Forget about the dishes just once and go to bed early instead.
It may seem counter-productive to take time off from homeschooling or household chores, but taking time to relax and rest will repay you with renewed motivation and energy to continue your journey as a homeschool mom.
Have you experienced homeschool burnout? Have you found ways to overcome it?
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Thank you for this encouragement. I have experienced burnout several times but with God’s grace He got me out of it. I am going save this for encouragement through out this next school year.
I’ve been going through this for the first time after 8 years. I can’t seem to get excited and ready for the upcoming year in September. Kind of just don’t have the drive… Hope that these ideas help me…
You’re not alone–I’ve been there, too. I’m glad you found this encouraging. And you’re so right–what would we ever do without God’s daily grace?
I can totally relate, Kayla! We, too, have been homeschooling for 8 years, and I’ve had several seasons where I just felt I couldn’t do it one more day. Keep encouraged–you’re not alone!
The picture at the beginning of this post was enough to get me to read the entire article 🙂
I have felt EXACTLY like that …. Thank you for this great article . Needed it today – perfect timing !
I am stuck in this. I love having my children with me. I love being hands on with their education. I love being able to open the opportunity for them to explore their own interests and find God’s plan for their lives while still maintaining a rigorous classical education through our homeschool group….. but, 🙂 over the last 5 -6 years, we have experienced MAJOR life changes including but not limited to the death of a baby, several miscarriages, several job losses, a 4 year house hunt which resulted in 3 almost new houses in which we packed and unpacked our entire or almost entire house but never actually moved, serious illness in the family which displaced half of us to another state and we schooled via email and skyppe but really we just simply failed at it all. Oh yeah, we also had a living baby who is a joy but, as would be expected under the circumstances, very willful and requires a strong hand…. along with the teenagers that require a strong hand because they’ve grown up in turmoil.
I LOVE homeschooling and do not feel called to quit but i’ve been through all of the above suggestions and i stay in prayer but it is just one thing after another and i can’t seem to catch my breath…..
i don’t know if there is a solution other than just do what the Lord puts in front of me each and every day trusting that He holds us all in His hands and He is faithful and just to complete the work He has begun….. but i sure could use the prayers of anyone who feels called.
i’m a worn out momma starting yet another school year before last year is done and my kids are behind in math…. but they can help you house hunt and know what a good mortgage rate is. they aren’t that great at spelling but they certainly can name all of their siblings in heaven… and spell their names correctly. they have compassion for others and can clean a house but they are slow when writing reports. and they don’t get enough time with their friends but they have a good relationship with their grandparents.
sigh…. i need a whole month off but can’t get it because we’re too far behind.
I have had my fair share of burn out but I am thankful for great people around me to help me out when I need it. I love the flexibility of homeschooling that allows me to take a break when we need it. Thanks for the great post!!
Dear Belle, you are not alone in this. I will keep you in prayer. We understand those times when we desperately cling to grace and everyday asks for an abundant measure of courage just to hang on and get through it. It will get easier. God is good, and He does not leave His work unfinished. Not only are you His child, but your children are His also. He takes care of His kids ;-). Hang in there, be brave and courageous.
I think we’ve all been there at one time or another, Courtney–I definitely have been! I hope you’ve been encouraged today.
Sometimes the source of burnout is not homeschooling itself, but rather all the outside factors that press in. You’ve certainly been dealing with many of those outside things. I think you’re totally right in continuing to take it one day at a time and trusting the Lord for His strength to do “all things through Christ.” And please know that I’ll be praying for you, too!
Totally agree, Valerie! Supportive friends and family are such a blessing during seasons of burnout. Thank you for the reminder to stay flexible–so important to homeschool moms!
Belle,
I can relate to this! I feel for you! Try not to be too hard on yourself, though. This is the life God has given you and your family. He knew what He was doing when He allowed these things to happen in your lives. Perhaps you really can allow yourself to take some time off. Maybe you could all just spend some time reading educational books together, or watching educational videos together. Maybe what you and your family need right now is each other, loving on each other, restoring peace to one another, without the stress of whether or not you’re going “enough” school right now. So what if it doesn’t look like how other people do school. Who says we all have to do it the same way? Even if it were to mean that your high schoolers don’t graduate on time, is that really a big deal? The peace of your family is probably more important than some goal dictated by a society that thinks everyone has to do it the same way. And maybe if everyone has some time for healing/calming/returning to normalcy/family bonding, then perhaps school will actually come easier eventually. I hope this encourages you. I have had to re-think things myself lately. God bless, I am praying for you and your precious family!
After 10 years of homeschooling I experienced burn out this year. For the fist time ever I didnt want to do it any. I didn’t enjoy it and it was a chore. I did all of the above suggestions and it helped me so much. I took a break and did nothing (well with 3 kids its impossible to do nothing but you get the point! ) I then completely changed r curriculum and way of learning to make it fun for both the kids and myself. Lastly I take time out when I need to. This one is difficult, but I’m working on it, and when I do I feel so refreshed I’m like a new woman!
Thank you for such insightful encouragement!
The guilt of letting my standards fall so incredibly low threatens to eat me alive! I really do have to stay focused on the fact that so much of this is mortal and in the end, all that matters is that my children have a relationship with Him…… but I do struggle because I don’t want them to end up ill-prepared for the job market either…. oh the balancing act! My husband and I scrape by and though we do get by and God does provide beautifully, we have sacrificed much so that our children have better opportunities and here at the finish line, I am failing.Or, so it seems.
I go through this just about every year. This year I am going to try a schedule of six weeks on school, two weeks off. I’m hoping that the frequent breaks will help eliminate burnout.
Thanks for sharing your success story, Patrice–I know it will encourage other homeschool moms who are feeling burned out as they begin a new homeschool year.
Holly, I’ve heard of many people who love taking a regular break like you’re planning. It sounds like a wonderful plan for both teacher AND students. 🙂