More notes from a seminar I attended years ago at my state homeschool convention.......

How To Avoid Burnout

** What is burnout?  What are the symptoms?

- Physical

- Mental

- Emotional

- Spiritual

** How can we recover from or avoid burnout?

- Step back and look at the big picture.

- Recognize God's economy at work.

** There are days for all of us where we feel like we can't keep going.

** Burnout only happens to people who care deeply about what they're doing and who are following something they believe with all their heart.

** You can't keep taking out without putting in. 

** Learn to say NO!  Don't give in to weakness.  Say no when you need to without apologizing.

** Burnout can happen from your children, your husband, your church, etc.  Anyone can get burned out. 

** We feel a lot of stress for our children to achieve.

** We have reminders all around us of what we haven't done.  There are things that can "accuse" you wherever you go.  When you start taking all this in, it can overwhelm you.

** Are you tired all the time or often sick?  These are signs of physical burnout. 

- You need to rest!

** Do you feel stressed or easily become discouraged and vulnerable to the enemy (satan)?  These are signs of mental burnout.

- Don't try to manage everything yourself.  You have a "team" in your house to pray for you and help you.

** Do your emotions come and go?  This is a sign of emotional burnout.

- Handle your emotions by submitting them to the Lord.

- Never decide to quit doing something based on how you feel.  Pray about it!

- You need to have a friendship with your child(ren).  You are a team that God has called together.

- When you are a Christian that God has "called" to homeschool, all you have to do is look in Scripture to see what happened to other people that God "called" ... it wasn't always pretty and it wasn't always easy.

- Remember the fruit of your efforts (homeschooling) is eternal.

** Don't count everything as a grade as to whether or not you have been successful.

** Remember we do what we do to see our children following the calling God has placed on their lives.

** When you face trials (financial, illness, etc.), don't give up on homeschooling.  God will give you the grace to do it.  Ask God to give you the grace to continue.

** Don't get so taken up with the nuts and bolts and academics of homeschooling that you miss God.

** You have to readjust your focus from time to time. 

** God has a plan for your child(ren).  He's had a plan since before you decided to homeschool.  It's His plan!  You are merely a tool in the plan.  Put your focus on Him and His plan.  Stick to the plan that God has given you for your child(ren).  Don't focus on what your neighbors or friends are doing.  Put your focus back on the Lord (Psalm 139).  When you fail, He will make sure He provides a means of success for your childI(ren) in spite of your failure.

** Seek Spiritual and practical solutions, but be guided by peace.

- Adjustment of a situation or approach.

- Adjustment of outside obligations.

- Adjustment of expectations.

- Adjustment of managerial style.

- Adjustment of personal steardship.

** We get busy meeting other people's expectations and end up setting our own children aside.  Make sure your obligations aren't causing you to put them low on your priority list.

** The most important part of personal stewardship is taking care of yourself!

** When you feel confused, step back and pray about it.  Feel the peace of the Lord about it.

** Pray for your friends who are struggling (and the ones who aren't).  Pray for the Lord to give us strength to finish the race.

** Let your children know the important things and pray and trust the Lord for the rest.

Seminar presented by  Debbie Strayer.