Learn about some causes of homeschool burnout, ways to cope, and ways to find support
When you have a child with school burnout online, no doubt, for a parent or learning coach, it can be hard work to simplify homeschooling for your students, as maintaining a balance between school, family, work and personal life is a commitment and a responsibility that often produces enormous stress.
If you’re feeling burned out from homeschooling when you’re easily frustrated helping your child with their virtual curriculum, it’s vital to remember that they’re not alone.
Read on! And discover the six ways you as a learning coach can deal with school burnout online and provide a satisfying education for your child.
How do I know I’m burned out?
The first step in fighting burnout begins with identifying the signs. Burnout is physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion combined with a lack of motivation, poor performance, and unfavorable attitudes toward others and yourself.
Educating a child in online school is likely to be a difficult task. You may even feel stressed, anxious, depressed, or even angry. Forgetting to take care of yourself is one of the causes why this happens. Often, homeschooling parents put so much effort and time into ensuring their children have the best that they neglect their self-care.
Six ways to cope with school burnout online:
1. Find your support system
Remember that you are not alone if you feel burned out. Some learning coaches suffer from school burnout. Today, there is a great community of parents of online school students, and you can turn to it for support, guidance, and advice.
Look for homeschool support teams, local networks, and home learning associations that will help you meet your state’s requirements. Joining these communities can help you meet families in similar circumstances and create lifelong friendships.
2. Make self-care a priority
While personal care is perceived differently by everyone, learning coaches often need to make their daily day include quiet time for themselves. It might involve getting up an hour earlier than their children to spend more time alone or asking the other parent or family member to help when needed. Devote some time to self-care, whatever that means for you.
3. Consider a change of schedule
School burnout online can also be a sign that something needs to change. You probably need to change your daily schedule or incorporate more breaks and fun times. Every family has different needs, and one of the keys to avoiding homeschool burnout, without a doubt, is flexibility. Here are some ideas to consider:
– Quiet time: homeschooling parents often set aside a quiet time every afternoon for children to rest, read, color, or do another activity they enjoy. It gives everyone time to recharge and get ready for the rest of the day.
– Additional outdoor time: Many physical schools implement outdoor play time after lunch so children can burn off some energy. You can use this time to take a walk, play together, or relax while your kids are having fun outside.
– Spread instruction: If you have trouble fitting everything into the day’s schedule, make your curriculum more flexible. You can incorporate learning activities after dinner or encourage more reading time before bedtime. Be creative and find what works best for you and your children.
4. Take an extended break
The great thing about online education is that you can manage your schedule. When you’re feeling burned out from school, your kids may be too. So, it might be time to take breaks for your mental health.
Give yourself some extra time to go out or enjoy a quiet read and relax. Everyone will feel revitalized and ready to take on the next school challenge when they return to their regular schedules.
5. Feel free to have fun
The online school curriculum has many forms of fun and joy. From games and music to cooking, arts, or educational films, don’t be afraid to add fun to your students’ classes. Focusing on what you and your kids like can help restore excitement and dispel some signs of school burnout. Start by talking with your children about the subjects they like and what they want to learn.
6. Lean on online education
Online education is unique because it provides multiple opportunities for students to study and learn freely. Relying on project-based learning, which allows children to learn independently and improve their research and problem-solving skills, is another way to achieve more balance in your schedule.
It is especially relevant when training many online students. Consider an online schools curriculum, such as those offered by MGM Academy, a private online school offering ideal programs for developing independence, personal responsibility, and other indispensable life skills.