Over on her Adventures in Homeschooling blog, Frazzled Mom called January “National Homeschool Burnout Month”. And I agree with her.

Most homeschoolers do experience that “burnout” feeling at some point in the year, yet we don’t always share those down sides with others. In part one, I shared how I deal with homeschool burnout.

Here, Karri Fieglein, another work-at-home, homeschooling mom (of 5), has generously agreed to let me share with you her 26 tips for dealing with burnout. (Thank you Karri!) I hope you find something in Karri’s wisdom that helps you through any challenging times you may be having in your homeschool journey.

 

26 Tips for Overcoming Homeschool Burnout

By  Karri Fieglein

It’s hard to get back in the swing of things after taking a long break. Here are some things I have done in the past and do today to help me with feeling frustrated with the miscellaneous situations of homeschooling and the challenge of the task.

1.    Remind myself that anything worth doing in life usually take energy and determination.

2.    Remember that by me being disciplined my kids see that certain things are important and then they usually follow my lead.

3.    Tell the kids that they will need to be in charge of things in life, and that they need to have initiative in learning, so that they can do what God intends them to do to the best of their abilities.

4.    Do something fun that we rarely do , like a big art or science project.

5.    Turn up the radio and dance around with the kids.

6.    Go for a walk.

7.    We have S, S& T Time – Silence, Solitude and Tea (hot) where the kids have to sit for 30 min- 1 hour by themselves and pray, read, or sleep, but no moving.

8.    Visit family or friends.

9.    Set up challenges and reward the accomplishments.

10.   Cut myself some slack. Remind myself that this is a marathon and not a quick sprint.

11.   Read 101 Devotions for Homeschool Moms by Jackie Wellwood.

12.   Plan a nice meal or go out to eat as encouragement for a hard day’s work.

13.   Pray and read James 1:1-7, Proverbs 1:7, Matthew 7: 24-27.

14.   Make updated focus (goal) charts celebrating all that you have done and learned so far.

15.   Remember tomorrow is yet another day and God gives grace.

16.   Plan a field trip or visit Dad at work for lunch.

17.   Focus on the mission and the overall reason we are homeschooling. For us it’s not to raise geniuses, but to raise God-fearing kids that love the Lord and aspire to learn more about who He is and everything he’s created.

18.   Visit an inspiring blog or website for encouragement.

19.   Play educational board and card games together and call it a day of learning.

20.   Have a motivational family meeting to remind everyone to put forth their best efforts and have a say in what happens.

21.   Remind myself to stop comparing and be thankful with who and where I am in Him right now, knowing He’s not finished with me yet.

22.   Thank God for my many blessings and the opportunity to homeschool and be with my kids even if they sometimes drive me nuts!

23.   Look at old pictures and see how they’ve grown and we have changed even over the past few years – reminisce.

24.   Call and talk to a role model that can encourage you.

25.   Make the first day back doing the regular schedule a special day – Pancakes for breakfast, P.J day, a few hours of coloring and reading aloud time, balloons, whatever to make it special.

26.   Know when to say No and try to stay focused on one thing before moving to the next.

I hope this helps even just one person.

- Karri F.

Karri Fieglein is a homeschooling mom of five  and the Foundations Director of Katy, TX for Classical Conversations, a Classical Christian Community. For more information on Classical Conversations, visit www.ClassicalConversations.com

On her Adventures in Homeschooling blog, Frazzled Mom brought up a subject that hits most homeschoolers I know, but we rarely seem to talk about – homeschool burnout. For some, like Frazzled Mom, it comes in January. For me, it’s every February. Now, I just know that every February I hit that wall. I don’t even know where it comes from, but it’s there, like clockwork.

Now I plan for it, I know it’s coming. And so, I tuck things aside, fun things, different things, something I’d like to try out, whatever, so that when I hit that homeschool burnout wall, I just embrace it as a time to try out something new.

In 2006, I finally did our first lapbooks – on the Winter Olympics… That ended up being so much fun, we lapbooked for the next year. Sometimes it works out like that, sometimes not.

This is also the time where I do more homeschool reading. More time reading what others are doing, other techniques. The other day, a friend was over and commented, “You just use so many different methods to teach…”  And it’s true. But in reality most of that learning about different methods comes from this time of listening, absorbing, and looking for something different to spice things up. 

But sometimes, also it’s just time for a break. One of the things I love about homeschooling is that I’m not bound by any artibutary schedule. If I need to take a day off school, then that’s what we do. But we still get our school work in, in other ways. 

I also remember that there is no other choice I’d make for my children’s education. I know why I’m homeschooling and every year that why list becomes longer. I know I don’t have to force myself to homeschool the same way every year or even for the whole year, nor do I have to homeschool exactly like anyone else. I now know that no matter what my kids are still learning and growing, and changing this up does not hurt them, and sometimes, they flourish more.

If you are hitting your burnout time, remember your “why”, know it’s okay to get burned out, that it happens to most of us,  and if you are comfortable doing so, take a break or just mix things up a little. Try out something new… give yourself a break.

For more tips on overcoming homeschool burnout, come on by tomorrow for part 2.  Another work-at-home, homeschooling mom (of 5) has agreed to let me share her list of 26 tips for overcoming homeschool burnout with you. Good stuff… see you tomorrow.

…Shannon