By Lewis
As a parent, you understand burnout is real. Unfortunately, when you homeschool your child, this is something that can happen to you and them. Especially as you transition into the high school years, the pressure can build due to the more advanced classes, test prep, and extra record-keeping required for college admissions. While this is true, you can take steps to help ensure burnout doesn’t occur. From taking breaks, getting outside, and even reading Thrive reviews to see what this supplement offers, there are more than a few ways to avoid this. Here are some suggestions on ways to avoid the inevitable high school burnout for both you and your teen.
Lower Your Expectations
If you homeschool your child, there’s no need to be perfect. Be selective about the activities that work for you and your family. You can also say no to some activities, especially if you already have a full schedule. You need to consider your homeschooling goals, which will help you figure out what you should do and not do. In some cases, changing up your schedule will help with burnout. For example, move classes from the morning to the afternoon. You and your child will benefit from switching things up from time to time.
Give Your Kids Free Time During the Day
Let your child pick out what they will do each day. Even high school students should be allowed time in their day for the things that interest them the most. There’s no reason to leave fun out of your teen’s life just because they are working toward graduation. Make sure that they have an outlet for relieving stress by being active or creative outside of their daily school tasks. While you may have to add some structure to their plans, allowing them to plan their day will keep them happy and engaged, as well as enabling your teen to truly take ownership of their high school education.
Make Other Tasks Easier
One of the best ways to avoid burnout is by making other tasks during the day simple. For example, you can plan simple meals, use your crockpot more, have cereal for breakfast, and more. You should also require your younger kids to help with the chores that need to be done. This will leave more time for the important tasks at hand – like being there for your high school student. Nothing is more irritating to a teen than if you are distracted when they are trying to talk with you, whether it’s just a casual chat at the kitchen counter or a serious discussion about a personal matter.
Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
You aren’t going to be like everyone else. You have to be patient and figure out what works for you and your kids with homeschooling. You need to be a mentor and facilitator for your children. You can also let your kids set the pace. Don’t rush them through lessons or move on to something new if they need more time on the prior activity. Take time to slow down. This is going to create a more relaxing environment for everyone.
Rearrange Your Homeschool Space
You likely have your homeschool area neat and organized when you first start the year. However, as the year progresses, you may notice the clutter has really started to accumulate. Now is a great time to declutter and rearrange your learning area. Starting anew with something fresh and clean is a great way to ensure the excitement and motivation continues throughout the year. This will be beneficial for everyone.
Look for Support
Both parents and children need support. Building a sense of community is a must if you homeschool your child. You can find conferences, online forums, chat groups, and co-ops that will help you develop this sense of community. Having other adults to discuss ideas with or just to complain is both constructive and healthy. The same concept applies to your children. Finding peer groups for your kids to engage in problem-based learning will benefit you and them in many ways. As the parent, you can act as your child’s guide to lead them in the right direction according to their needs and interests.
Take a Break
If you wake up one day and feel overwhelmed, skip school. Instead, take your kids to do something fun and burn off energy. Go to the park, a friend’s house, an art center, cook or bake together. Everyone who homeschools needs mental health breaks. Your kids do, too, so be willing to take a break when needed.
Change Up Your Teaching Style
While structured learning may seem like a good idea, it may not work for you all the time. There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a term, quarter or semester, only to realize your student is only partially done with that semester’s work. Beware of procrastination, but allow yourself the freedom to be flexible and not tied to the calendar. Maybe your teen can work on the weekend or over the summer to get caught up. Also, be willing to change up the teaching style you use based on your needs and your kid’s needs.
Avoiding Burn Out
As you can see, if you homeschool your children, you can do more than a few things that will help you stay the course and avoid burnout. Keep the tips here in mind, which will be beneficial for you and for your kids. Being informed and knowing what to do and what to avoid will pay off in the long run.