Welcome, dear homeschooling warriors,

When I was at the peak of my homeschooling journey, I began to feel a little unease. I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. And being the busy mom I was, I ignored it and continued to do what I did everyday. I cooked and cleaned, I washed dirty faces and hugged away the hurts. I did my very best to keep my house as tidy as I could and that was a challenge with 7 littles hanging around all day. Soon my unease became something more than unease. It became anxiety. Just twinges of anxiety. Not a lot. So, guess what, I continued to ignore the symptoms and before I knew it I ended up in an emergency room with full blown panic attacks….. actually I ended up there many times full of confusion and fear

I’m here to share my experience to help you avoid what I went through.

Its important to remember that our dedication, while noble, can sometimes carry a hidden toll. In the heart of our quest to provide a nurturing and enriching learning environment for our children, we might find ourselves treading the thin line between passion and exhaustion, commitment and burnout.

Homeschooling, a path chosen with love and hope, demands more than just academic teaching; it calls for a piece of our soul, demanding constant creativity, patience, and resilience. In this labor of love, it’s all too easy to overlook the silent whispers of burnout, mistaking them for mere shadows of daily fatigue. Yet, acknowledging these signs early is crucial, not just for our well-being, but for the flourishing of our children’s education and our family’s harmony.

Today, let’s pause and reflect together. Let’s dive into understanding what homeschool burnout truly is, its early warning signs, and the subtle ways it might be affecting our homeschooling world. This isn’t a conversation about defeat. Its about empowerment, about recognizing the signs early so we can continue to educate our children with joy, passion, and energy.

Remember, recognizing the signs of burnout is the first step toward reigniting your passion and ensuring your homeschool journey is both fulfilling and sustainable. So, let’s explore these signs together, with open hearts and minds, ready to support and uplift each other in this shared journey of education and personal growth.

Recognizing the Signs of Homeschool Burnout:

It took me a long time to realize that my body was screaming out for help. If I had listened more closely and had been aware of the signs I could have dealt with it way sooner and would not have had to go down the deep path of recovery that I did. So how can you know if you are going into a burnout state. I think the first step is to begin to be deeply aware of what you are feeling We all get tired after a day of work but someone who is dealing with burnout or adrenal insufficiency will experience tiredness at a whole different level

This list is not exhaustive but here are some symptoms that I experienced; feeling tired, body aches,loss of appetite, nausea, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, loss of hair, craving salty food, depression and lack of motivation

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms go to your doctor and get some panels done

But if you are like me I was sent home with the words nothing is wrong… you have anxiety

in my heart of hearts I knew the anxiety was being caused by something and made it my venture to find out what was causing my symptoms. It took a long time and endless amounts of research but I finally was connected with an adrenal fatigue specialist and began to get better on a protocol he offered me.

Strategies to Navigate Through Burnout Symptoms

- Prioritize Your Health: First of all it is very important to talk to your practitioner to rule out any underlying cause to your symptoms. For me there was no underlying cause I could have taken some meds but chose not too ( although for a time I took a small amount). Even if you are prescribed medications there is a lot you can do yourself to overcome this burnout situation

- Advocate for Yourself: I can’t speak enough to the fact that you have to research and find out what is wrong but also on how to heal While I was on the couch in exhaustion I spent many hours researching and finding solutions to my difficulties and because of my research I came across the most amazing adrenal fatigue specialist and once I had found him my health issues began to subside and I was able to find a way forward

Implement Lifestyle Changes

- Nutrition and Hydration: When I was in the middle of my burnout, drinking helped to stabilize my body and when anxiety struck drinking was what helped me move the frightening emotions through my body. It was super important for me to eat small amounts often with lots of protein. You need to find what works for you best to maintain your highest level of energy

- Regular Exercise: Honestly when I was in the middle of my burnout I could not get up off the couch to exercise. My burnout had gone so deep that I had a hard time walking to the washing machine to put in a load of laundry. So my exercise at the time was getting up and getting my lymphatic system moving every hour. If I could muster up was pumping my arms and legs for a few minutes. The only other exercise I did at that time was to deep breathe 10 times every hour. This was therapeutic as it calmed the nervous system plus provided my body with much needed oxygen. As my body healed I began to workout at first very gently and then I worked up to about 1/2 hr per day. This helps in so many aspects of burnout- but that’s a whole other blog!!

- Adequate Rest: As my body healed I was able to work but it was important to take many moments of rest throughout the day. You must listen to your body and quit when it tells you too. It’s especially important to get to bed in time and get a good nights rest. Its during this time that your body is healing!!

Emotional and Mental Well-being

- Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Finding moments of calm can seem like searching for a needle in a haystack. Yet, the practice of relaxation and mindfulness techniques stands as a beacon of hope for homeschool moms navigating the stormy seas of burnout. Simple, yet profoundly effective, these practices invite us to anchor our minds in the present, allowing us to momentarily step away from the whirlwind of tasks and responsibilities. By dedicating just a few minutes each day to mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing, guided imagery, or meditation, we can significantly lower our stress levels, enhance our focus, and replenish our emotional reserves. Engaging in relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation can also help ease the physical tension that often accompanies stress, leading to a more peaceful state of body and mind. These moments of mindful pause not only offer us a well-deserved break but also reinvigorate our spirits, empowering us to return to our homeschooling journey with renewed energy and perspective. Embracing these practices teaches us a valuable lesson: in the art of balancing teaching and self-care, finding peace within ourselves is the first step towards nurturing a harmonious homeschool environment.

- Set Realistic Expectations:Navigating the terrain of burnout requires a gentle recalibration of our expectations, both of ourselves and the educational journey we’re guiding our children through. Setting realistic expectations is akin to drawing a map that leads us through dense fog—it doesn’t clear the fog but offers us direction and a sense of control. Recognize that it’s perfectly okay to not accomplish every task on your to-do list or cover every lesson plan to the letter. Embrace a more flexible approach to homeschooling, understanding that some days will be more productive than others, and that’s entirely normal. Simplify your curriculum if needed, focusing on core subjects and integrating more unschooling or child-led learning approaches to ease the pressure. Remind yourself that the success of homeschooling doesn’t solely hinge on academic achievements, but also on the well-being and development of your children—and this includes a happy, healthy parent. By setting achievable goals and forgiving ourselves for the bumps along the way, we not only alleviate the weight of burnout but also model resilience and self-compassion for our children to copy.

- Delegate and Ask for Help: Can you ask for help during this time from family members? Is there room for a house cleaner in the budget? Can you delegate some of your tasks to the children so your task load gets lighter? These are all ideas on how to help you take some much needed help I know for me when I experienced my burnout we went to a totally online curriculum that included all the marking of work that our children did. This allowed us to continue homeschooling while I made my much needed recovery

Foster a Supportive Community

- Connect with Other Homeschool Parents: You will be surprised at how many other homeschool moms are experiencing what you are experiencing to some degree or another. It is important that you do not feel alone. Knowing other people are experiencing what you are experiencing really helps you realize that this is life for many and it helps you see past it and get through to the other side

- Professional Support: Seek counsel from a therapist or coach specializing in stress management or homeschooling challenges. This can help you come up with a personalized game plan that will not only motivate you to accomplish but also find that happy balance that your life has been missing.

Personal Growth and Hobbies

- Rediscover Personal Interests: You may think that this is ridiculous advise. After all you say I’m already exhausted and overwhelmed. How in the world will I carve out more time to do this!! But believe me this will help you find joy and motivation in your day to day life You will look forward to your personal interest time and work toward making time for it and after you will come back rejuvenated and ready to face your tasks at hand again.

- Journaling: Journaling is a way to process feelings, track symptoms, and recognize progress. It will also allow you to put your feelings on paper and that is proven to be therapeutic. Things you may never say out loud or to anybody, you can write it down and it’s a way for your brain to deal with it. While your at it make sure you spend some time writing out the things you are thankful for that day also. Thankfulness is a proven way to help you past any discontent you may be feeling. It doesn’t have to be long and drawn out- although it can be… just a few minutes a day is sufficient

Spiritual Support

- Faith and Spirituality: Find strength in God and leave your difficulties at His feet. He loves to hear and answer prayer and it also is how He loves to heal us from our mental difficulties. Activities such as prayer, meditation, or community worship are used by God to bring us near to Him and find our strength and dependence on Him

Conclusion: Embrace Compassion and Self-Care

As we journey through the homeschooling landscape, it's important to remember that the path to overcoming burnout is paved with compassion and self-care. Embracing these values means granting ourselves the same patience, understanding, and love that we so freely give to our children. It means acknowledging our limits and recognizing that in the act of caring for ourselves, we are not only preserving our own health but also enriching our family’s homeschooling experience. Let us hold close the notion that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity, serving as the foundation upon which a fulfilling homeschool journey is built. As we move forward, let’s commit to weaving moments of mindfulness, relaxation, and realistic expectations into the fabric of our daily lives, thereby transforming our homeschooling journey into one marked by joy, resilience, and balance. In doing so, we not only navigate away from the shores of burnout but also steer towards a horizon filled with renewed energy and purpose.

Beyond Burnout

A Heartfelt Message to the Burned-Out Homeschool Mom: Finding Your Way Back to Joy and Connection

From Burnout to Balance:The Homeschool Moms Guide to Hormones and Sleep