10 Simple Ideas to Help You Avoid Homeschool Burnout

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Have you hit a slump in your homeschool? What do you do when you lack the motivation to follow through with your daily routine?

This usually happens to me half way through the year, when winter is not quite over and spring has not yet arrived. At this point in our homeschool year, we have been homeschooling straight through without stopping since Christmas break. The end is in sight, but we still have a way to go.

The good news is that you can avoid homeschool burnout! In my homeschooling journey over the past 14 years, I have learned a few strategies that have helped me stay the course and beat the homeschool mom blues.

Video: 10 Simple Ideas to Help You Avoid Homeschool Burnout

#1 Be Creative

Explore nontypical ways to learn through art, music, nature, movement, etc. Do something fun.

Occasionally, we get out paints and brushes and imitate the pieces from our picture study. Dance to music with your preschoolers. Play card or strategy board games with your older kids. Work out to your favorite exercise routine together. Try playing music during your school day.

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#2 Switch It Up

Do you get into a rut of doing school a certain way this time of year? Do you spend most of your homeschool day at home doing bookwork? Try switching it up!

Go out more often to discover the local attractions and fun things to do in your area.

The opposite also applies. If you are out a lot, maybe you would enjoy staying home more and doing quiet work or being creative or productive.

Although there is no perfect curriculum, sometimes it can be a good thing to branch out and try something new. By nature, I am not a unit studies person. It’s too much work for my practical personality. But now and then when things tend to get monotonous, I have tried a unit study to bring a little flare and excitement to our day.

#3 Connect With Other Homeschoolers

Sometimes what we need more than anything else is simply encouragement. Spending time with other homeschoolers can help you avoid the trap of isolation.

Invest in the kind of relationships that make you walk away revitalized in your calling, not discouraged.

Are you involved in local homeschool groups? Have play dates with friends from your co-op. Meet up at a nearby cafe or your local library. Take advantage of the freedom you have to go out with other friends during the school day.

#4 Follow Seasoned Homeschoolers

Listen to other homeschoolers with years of experience. This will help you avoid doing things the hard way.

Feed your mind by reading homeschool books. When you get some free time, don’t waste it on social media. Instead, peruse your favorite blogs or listen to podcasts on homeschooling. Here are some of my favorites.

Podcasts:

5 Homeschool Podcasts You Need to Download

Websites:

Read Aloud Revival

Generation Cedar

The Unlikely Homeschool

Good Book Recommendations:

#5 Serving

Serving others is a great way to add variety to your homeschool while also teaching compassion for others. Finding time to invest in the care of other people gets us out of our own little world. When kids meet the needs of others, it can give them a fresh perspective on life, reminding them to be thankful.

What volunteer work is available in your area? Think of ways that you can serve your family members, church, neighbors, and community.

Start conversations with the elderly neighbors around you. Find out if they need help with house or lawn work. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.

#6 Try Some Life Skills Learning

Put the books aside. Be a more flexible homeschool mom and think outside the box. Life skills are important learning lessons too!

Think about what kinds of skills you want your kids to be competent at before they leave the house. Try some new recipes in the kitchen. Get out real money and play store, practicing giving change. Begin plans for your summer garden.

Behind in housework? Have a life skills day by organizing closets, washing and mending clothes, and deep cleaning.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

50 Life Skills That Should Be Taught At Home

Useful Life Skills Suitable to Teach in Winter

Useful Life Skills Suitable to Teach in Spring

#7 Field Trips

Do more field trips, especially with friends! Field trips teach kids through experiential learning. This is great especially if you have a kid who is a hands-on learner.

On field trips, kids can explore real places, rather than only reading about them in books. They can use their five senses to observe everything around them. It’s fun to watch how products are made or how a business is run.

Visit local science and art museums, historical sites, the state capitol, theatrical performances, and community events. Get ideas by asking your homeschool friends about some of the favorite field trips they have enjoyed.

#8 Do Less

Take a good look at your schedule. Are you doing too much? Sometimes the real cause of homeschool mom burnout is physical exhaustion. Because we are constantly running, we can lose inspiration for doing the things we love.

Maybe this is a good time for you to pause and limit your activity. Allow space in your day for empty moments. The more free time I have without any pressure or obligations, the more energized I become.

Or maybe you need to take a complete break from your school work. Taking a homeschool break for an extended period of time may bring life back to your whole family and help you to make it over the long haul.

Don’t be afraid to do less. Having more margin in your day is a great thing. It will make you a much better mom.

#9 Try Interest-led Learning

If your homeschool curriculum has lost its pizzazz, try following your child’s interest. Ask them what they want to learn. What are your kids’ favorite subjects? What is something they are curious about? Listen to them. What are they asking or talking about most?

Think about it. When do you learn the most? When you have something on your mind that you are curious to know or master and you start searching for more information on that subject, THAT is a moment when you are learning the most.

#10 Remember why you started homeschooling in the first place.

I think its a good idea to remember why you started homeschooling in the first place.

Here’s a practice I do every now and then when I get weary of our homeschool routine. I mentally review the reasons that we chose to homeschool. Relationships. Discipleship. More free time. Then I imagine losing those freedoms.

Some homeschool days are pretty rough, but I can’t imagine NOT having the wonderful lifestyle that homeschooling has afforded us. Doing this gives me fresh perspective.

Being a homeschooling mom is not easy, but remembering why you chose to homeschool in the first place might energize you. It will remind you that it is WORTH it!

Share your Ideas for Helping Homeschool Burnout

I hope these simple Ideas have infused new life into your homeschool! Whether you are a seasoned mom or new homeschooler, what changes have you made in your family to reverse homeschool mom burnout? Share with others by commenting below!

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