How to Avoid Homeschool Burnout

Let’s be honest, while there are so many positives to homeschooling your kids, there are some downsides too. One of the big ones is homeschool burnout. We all battle it. Especially during this time of year when we are just a few short months from summer with no breaks in sight.  It can be hard to stay the course.

I’m going to share just what “homeschool burnout” is and some helpful tips so you can avoid homeschool burnout in the future!

What Is Homeschool Burnout

Homeschool burnout is that feeling that you just can’t possible do one more lesson, worksheet or book. It’s the overwhelming feeling that you are behind, going to be behind, not working fast enough or just plain “stuck” in your homeschool.

Kids and parents alike experience homeschool burnout. It’s not a sign that you are doing something wrong. It’s simply a cycle that all homeschoolers experience at some point in their homeschool career. Don’t panic, there are lots of things you can do to avoid homeschool burnout.

Ways to Avoid Homeschool Burnout

Take Time Off

If I had one secret or one quick tip for moms out there who are homeschooling, it would be this one! In our homeschool classroom, we take a break from school work for Christmas break and other holidays and some long weekends sprinkled in here and there.  We take at least a week for spring break, and we allow ourselves the summer off.

Whether you are taking off for the summer or homeschooling all year round, it’s important to make sure that you are taking time off. Make sure to add in some school holidays to make sure you get some time off from teaching throughout the year. This is just as important for the kids as it is for you!

When we start our planning at the beginning of the year, the very first thing we decide on is our time off! Be sure to schedule it in and stick to it! 

Change Things Up

Doing the same old thing can also lead to burning out. Try changing things up sometimes or putting your curriculum on hold to do something fun! Go outside and do a nature study or science experiment. Plan something around your child’s latest favorite book or take a field trip. Try some delight-directed learning. Look for ways to incorporate learning differently that doesn’t require completely rewriting your lesson plans. Getting a break to do something fun can be useful for both you and your kids.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links’. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission.

Lower Your Homeschool Expectations

Lowering your expectations and realizing the real non-negotiable things can make a big difference in your homeschool classroom. Learning can wait a day if you have a hectic day; sandwiches and cereal are perfectly fine meals on a busy night when you are behind, and being flexible and changing your expectations can help you avoid burnout. Trying to do too many things is just as bad as not doing enough!

Be Realistic With Your Time

We all have different time schedules, and we have to decide how we’re going to use that time. Balancing life and schoolwork can be a challenge, so think about how much time you realistically have for schoolwork. Don’t try to overdo it if you don’t have the time. Prioritize what things are important in your classroom and your life to manage your time better. Know how much time you have in a day and make it work for you!

Don’t Be Afraid to Leave Blank Pages

We do not complete every single question on every page on every single workbook. Why? Because it’s unnecessary. We have even left some books unfinished. Some of these workbooks have hundreds of questions in there and doing half of the questions or even a quarter of the questions will still give them the practice they need!

This is one of the reasons we decided to homeschool in the first place – we want to be in control of our kids’ learning.  Mindlessly completely workbook pages for the sake of finishing a workbook is silly and stressful. Trust me, the first few times is tough. My OCD would try to step in and demand we finish all the pages. It’s ok to struggle with this one but it will be ok.

Hopefully, these tips will help you avoid homeschool burnout and help make your homeschool experience that much better! Remember that homeschool burnout is very real and shouldn’t be taken lightly! Take time off when you need it and recover if you’re feeling burnt out. You’ll be a better mom and teacher for it!