Homeschooling can be a stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Often homeschool parents create stress because of underlying anxieties about whether we are doing enough for our kids. We see how slow the learning process can be, and we panic. Many moms and dads find themselves facing homeschool burnout at some point, especially when juggling school work, family life, and the challenges of parenting.

Homeschool burnout is a real phenomenon, and it’s important to recognize the signs before it impacts your family’s well-being. Do you find yourself feeling constantly overwhelmed, irritable, or resentful? Are you struggling to remember the joy in your homeschooling routine? Have you lost your enthusiasm for teaching and learning alongside your children? These could be signs of homeschool burnout creeping in. But don’t worry, there’s hope! This post will explore practical strategies to help you overcome homeschool burnout and rediscover the joy in your homeschooling journey. By recognizing the signs and taking proactive steps, you can create a more sustainable and fulfilling homeschooling experience for yourself and your children.

It’s easy to feel burned out when you’re constantly teaching, planning lessons, chauffeuring to sports and music lessons, and managing curriculum, all while trying to maintain a sense of balance in your daily routine. But don’t worry, there are many strategies to alleviate stress and avoid burnout. Today, I want to offer you four tips to help avoid homeschool burnout and embrace the joy in your homeschooling journey.

1) Take a Break: Empower Your Kids to Recognize Their Needs

I am the textbook definition of a Type-A parent. I have five adult children and a 14-year-old. Recently my kids and I were talking about our adventures in homeschooling. I realized that as a Type-A Parent, my mentality was often that if I had set a goal, we were going to meet that goal no matter what happened. This put my kids in a position of not feeling like they could advocate for themselves. As homeschool parents, it’s easy to fall into this trap, especially when we’re focused on curriculum and completing school work. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is take a break.

We can inadvertently sabotage our children’s ability to self-regulate when we try to force them to overextend beyond their capabilities. Create a system of checks and balances where your student can say, “I need 10 minutes to just go sit by myself” or where you can say to your kids, “I need a break. Let’s go outside and look at the clouds for 15 minutes.” Encourage them to listen to their bodies and minds. Teaching kids to recognize when they need a break is a valuable life skill that will serve them well beyond homeschool.

Homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint. One of the hardest things about homeschooling is for us to realize that this is a job where you don’t see the fruits of your labor while you’re laboring. It’s a full-time job that requires patience, dedication, and the ability to avoid burnout. Let me encourage you to breathe, to relax. You’re fighting a good fight and you’re doing a great thing with your children. If you’re teaching your children to advocate for themselves and become lifelong learners, then you’re doing a fantastic thing. Taking breaks is an important part of the process, both for you and your kids. It allows everyone to return to their tasks refreshed and ready to learn.

2) Find Joy: Incorporate Laughter and Play into Your Homeschool Day

The second tip is to embrace laughter. As a colleague reminded me this morning, “You know, for homeschooling to work, you gotta be able to laugh at yourself. You have to be able to laugh at your mistakes.” That’s really true. When you’re a homeschool parent juggling all these things – lessons, curriculum, projects, and family – it’s essential to find joy in the little moments. And laughter is one of the best ways to do that!

Laughter is something we should take into all of our endeavors. Find what’s comedic in everyday life. Spend time with your kids remembering past funny experiences. Sharing laughter with your children can create lasting memories and strengthen your bond. Imagine the stories you’ll have to tell for years to come!

Last Christmas, I gathered with all my kids and grandkids and we had a fantastic time. And what my family members remembered most vividly from the days of homeschooling were the funny things that happened. Those shared moments of joy can help overcome homeschool burnout and remind you why you chose this path in the first place.

3) Find Friends Who Let You Vent

My third tip is that it’s important to find someone to talk to who’s a good listener, and who is probably not related to you. What does that mean? Sometimes we’re just too close to an issue and that can cause friction. Often we’re tempted to try to immediately solve everything on a rough day instead of just listening. As a homeschool mom, it becomes important for you to have someone that you can call or chat with, or have a cup of coffee with and say, “I’m really struggling with this right now.” Someone who can hear you, provide feedback, and help guide you.

If you’re feeling homeschool mom burnout, connecting with other homeschool moms can be a lifeline. It’s so valuable to have friends who understand the unique joys and challenges of homeschool. They can offer support, encouragement, and a safe space to vent without judgment.

I was blessed to have two friends with whom I homeschooled for my 21 years. We had the kind of friendship where we could call and say, “Hey, I don’t need advice. I just need to vent for a minute.” And the other person would sit and listen. That was a wonderful gift and those ladies are still part of my life. A good friend can be such a powerful encouragement, to keep you in the game and help you avoid burnout.

Homeschool moms need a support group. Whether it’s a local co-op, an online forum, or a casual gathering at a park, finding your tribe can make all the difference in overcoming homeschool mom burnout. Sharing experiences, ideas, and even just a knowing smile with other moms who “get it” can be incredibly refreshing.

4) Record Happy Moments on a Post-it Note

My fourth and final tip is that when you and your kids experience a funny or happy moment, write it down. I have a Mason jar where I keep all these notes. And then when I’m having a day that I feel like, “Hmm, the knot at the end of my rope is a little frayed,” I take out my jar and I start reading through those notes. It encourages me. The biggest blessing is that at the end of the year, you can pull out those notes and you and your children can look at the year and say, “Wow, look at all these fantastic things that happened.” This simple act of recording happy moments can be a powerful tool to combat homeschool burnout.

Homeschooling is not an easy experience, and you will have stressful days. Homeschool burnout is a real challenge for many parents, and it’s important to recognize the signs and take steps to avoid burnout. Remember on days that you and your student feel like you’re hitting a brick wall to take a complete break, laugh, vent to a friend, or read through your positive Post-it notes. Above all else remember you ARE doing a good job.

When homeschool burnout creeps in, it can be easy to lose sight of the joy in homeschooling. But by taking time for self-care and focusing on the positive, you can reignite your passion and overcome homeschool burnout. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Many homeschoolers have faced similar challenges and found ways to thrive.

Don’t let homeschool burnout steal your joy. Embrace these simple strategies to avoid burnout, find balance, and create a positive homeschooling experience for both you and your children. And if you’re looking for more support and guidance, be sure to download our Homeschooling 101 eBook below!

Further Reading

15 Homeschool Burnout Tips from Bloggers

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