While media can certainly be a source of stress for any homeschooling mother, I am continuously in awe of how talented individuals provide inspirational resources in such abundance. Today, I'm sharing seven weapons that can help you battle burnout in this season of blahs.
1. The free REFRESH Midwinter Virtual Conference is a gift from Homeschool Connections to all homeschooling parents. This series of webinars includes ten live sessions on a range of topics all designed to inspire you to survive until summer! I hope to be participating in the Staying Positive, Giving Thanks, and Managing Distractions webinars. Once upon a time I presented a couple of webinars, and you can still view my Homeschool Help Webinars free by logging in as a guest.
2. The Pray More Retreat is a Lenten opportunity from Pray More Novenas to anyone who wishes to deepen their prayer life. Each of the 16 video presentations is available to view at your convenience for a pay-what-you-can registration fee. You know how important I think prayer is to successful homeschooling, so I look forward to viewing these presentations in the weeks ahead!
3. It is not too late to sign up for access to the Faces of Mercy Online Catholic Conference 4 Moms with my $4.00 off coupon code (mother). I have viewed all of the English presentations, some more than once, and they are all fabulous! These ideas for living the Jubilee Year of Mercy in a practical way are a helpful addition to my list of resources for celebrating in my home.
4. This is my third year joining Elizabeth Foss's Restore Workshop. The core materials include a collection of 21 essays compiling years of hard-earned wisdom on how to avoid and crawl out of burnout, as well as daily devotionals for Lent, which focus on restoration. If you are ready to do the hard work of healing mind, body, and soul, this workshop is for you. Read about the additional bonus materials here, but please register for the workshop using my affiliate link if you would be so kind.
5. One of my all time favorite books is Seasons of a Mother's Heart: Heart to Heart Encouragement for Homeschool Moms by Sally Clarkson. (affiliate link) Her gentle testimony of homeschooling her four children through the varied seasons of life inspires me to keep moving forward while relying on Christ for my strength. Every time I hear her speak (her podcast is excellent) or read her words, I feel like a personal mentor is holding my hand and helping me through these busy days.
6. And those who know me well know I am a champion cheerleader for Sarah Mackenzie's incredible book Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakeable Peace. (affiliate link) While I was part skeptic after reading her book the first time, I can truly say that embracing the Godly advice in this book has changed my life. It has changed me and my homeschooling for the best!
7. This one is for those of you who read the other six takes and lamented that you don't have time for virtual conferences or the money to invest in another resource: Invite a friend or acquaintance, preferably a fellow Catholic homeschooling mama if you are one, for tea (or coffee if you insist). You can meet in the wee hours of the morning or late at night at a coffee shop or restaurant. You can close all the doors in your house, tidy the open space, and invite them to bring their kids to your house (or not, but there is joy in this kind of tidy). That's it. Just get together. I am constantly setting up these kinds of chats and opening my home to other mothers, because it's what I need to refresh my soul!
I hope that one thing here can help you out of your February blahs. What has helped in the past when burnout threatens you?
1 comment:
We always do no sweets during Lent and just removing those from my diet (and going to bed before 11) gives me such a fresh look at homeschooling, the rhythm of our day, and the challenges that pop up every single morning! Great post. Thanks for all the ideas!
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