How To Pace Yourself So Burnout No More

I hear it all the time from my homeschooling momma's not so much from the dad's because they keep it to themselves, and from my working momma's

I am BURNED OUT or I am STRESSED OUT

It's because they forget one simple thing. SCHEDULE your time in.

HOMESCHOOLING WITHOUT BURNOUT

This is something that I have to take extra time to consider. As a working mom, I sometimes try to 'over' compensate for not being home all the time with my kids, that taking time out for myself seems selfish.

However, with the freedom of homeschooling and a supportive spouse, I can make sure I get my time in. I also schedule in my husband's personal time with me alone without the kids.


THE SCHEDULE is where IT BEGINS

I do Weekly planning for the kids. I plan out their day and their subject.

I also PLAN IN MOM TIME and have the kids trained to do self absorbed activities during that time. I only give myself 1 hour every other day.

Example:
Mon/Wed/Friday = 1 hr of my time to spend having a nap
Mon/Wed/Friday = 1 hr of my kids doing online interactive learning / playing a video game or doing something fun during their 1 hr break

Sat = Marraige time. My husband and I go on a 'date night' or have a 'movie night with food and snacks in our room or basement'. The kids know not to bother us during that time.

TRAIN YOUR KIDS TO RESPECT YOUR TIME

My kids respect that they have to give mom time. We have a TIMER set up that marks my time and over the years, they have come to learn to respect it. I give them a *Gift* when they do.

TAKE ON AN OUT OF THE HOUSE HOBBY or PART TIME JOB YOUR LOVE

I get out of the house one time a month for a Meetup.com event to either paint or work with other authors.

My girlfriend is a SAHM and found a part-time job as a Cake Decorator. She loves the work and the people at her job that she said it makes making money fun, gives her a get out the house card, and funds some of her kids school materials.

STAYCATIONs

Also, since I love to write, I do STAYCATIONS. I wake up two hours earlier than everyone on the weekend and go out on my backyard, sit at my table and start to write as the sun comes up.

It's a wonderful time alone for reflection, reading and quiet.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

Make a place in your home that is your 'spot'. Create and schedule in your time alone to refresh. Give your spouse the same courtesy. My husband gets to rest, watch TV, walk outside as soon as he gets home from work since I am usually already in the house. I get my time in the night time after dinner when he is ready to take over instruction for the kids.

For our Weekend date nights, we try to get a babysitter and usually switch off with our friends.