Let’s chat homeschool hibernation, shall we?

I’m one of those annoying morning people.

I wake up early and I wake up on. I used to drive my friends crazy at sleepovers.

Being one of those annoying morning people has served me well as a homeschooling mom. I’m able to get up hours before my children. I can do the things that I love, those things that feed my soul before they enter the kitchen. I’m able to squeeze in some last-minute homeschool planning, too.

This helps our homeschool mornings to run smoothly… or, if we’re being completely honest, smooth-ish.

Buuuuuut…

Our winter mornings have not been smooth-ish.

I’m still awake hours before my children, but I am having trouble putting feet to the floor and accomplishing all the things.

It’s just so dark.

And cold.

And gray.

And my bed is so comfortable and warm, and it’s surrounded by towering stacks of books.

I think I might be experiencing homeschool hibernation.

And the same exact thing happened last winter.

Homeschool Hibernation: How to Survive the Winter Doldrums

Homeschool hibernation is tricky business

I’ve tried to get up.

In fact, I still set my coffee pot for 5 am.

Because that’s what I do. Waking up early and working out, or writing, or reading, or homeschool planning… that’s my thing. It’s part of my genetic make-up.

But, no matter how hard I try, those feet rarely hit the floor until my little friends come into my bedroom to announce that their green lights are on.

That means it is 7:00…

… and that I’ve been in my bed, mostly awake, for two hours.

Every morning, when those little faces peek into my room to announce the time, I think to myself:

Tomorrow!! Tomorrow I am going to get up on time. This is the last day I do this.

I set the coffee for 5 am and hope for the best, but it’s like I’m stuck in some sad little homeschool hibernation groundhog day.

How I muddle through homeschool hibernation:

Every morning, after silently scolding myself, I head to the kitchen where my coffee has been waiting for two hours.

I pour that blessed first cup, deeply inhale its comforting aroma, and take a sip.

Then, I drag out our homeschool bin. It is overflowing with all the things. All the resources, materials, and curricula we love.

All of the things that, if we’re being honest here, I won’t get to today.

I won’t get to them because we got a late start and it set our homeschool world a bit off-kilter.

Instead of pulling out a towering stack that will only serve to make me feel guilty later when it sits barely touched, I pull out our current read aloud.

As the children gather their breakfasts, I start to read.

What are you good at? Do that. It will help while you are suffering from homeschool hibernation.

If you are experiencing a homeschool hibernation, think of that thing you are good at. C’mon, homeschool mama, you are good at something. 

Maybe you are a math whizz.

Maybe you majored in art history.

Maybe you speak a second language.

Maybe you sing like Kenny.

Whatever it is that makes you feel like a homeschooling rock star, that one thing you never have to worry about, do that.

Rather than silently berating yourself for something that has already happened, do something that you can do well. Start the day with that. You’ll feel better, and you’ll cross something off of that homeschool to-do list.

Me? I am a reader. I love to read. I rock at reading to my kids.

And so, on those cold, gray, winter mornings I start there.

It’s funny because, when you focus on what you are good at, you start to feel better.

And you accomplish something.

And, often but not always, you feel that spark of motivation that your hibernation has squelched.

And, sometimes, you end up accomplishing more than you initially thought you’d be able to.

There are homeschooling seasons. Homeschool hibernation is normal and temporary.

Just as there are seasons of the year, there are homeschooling seasons. Right now, we are in a homeschool slow down.

The days are shorter, there is less sunshine, and the motivation is lower than at other points during the year.

Do you know what? It’s okay.

It’s normal. 

Homeschooling is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

We are in this for the long haul, and we’ll get there eventually.

Just not today.

As the days lengthen and the sun shines brighter, we’ll wake with renewed energy. Just as we did last year.

I know that, in a few months, I’ll be my annoying morning person self once more. Rejuvenated, I’ll accomplish all the things… or, if we’re being honest here, I’ll accomplish more-of-the-things-than-I-am-accomplishing-right-now.

And that will be okay, too.

Sometimes, homeschool hibernation can be something more…

If you struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), this time of year can be… tricky. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is tied to the change in season. You can read more about the disorder here, but – in a nutshell- SAD is a type of depression that typically presents in the fall and resolves in the spring.

I have struggled with SAD for years, but it is definitely trickier to navigate SAD when you are homeschooling little ones. Every year, I feel that our homeschool is chugging along at a great pace. We are happy and enjoying the journey. And then BAM! everything comes to a screeching halt. We lose steam, we get cranky, we accomplish less… and this homeschool mama feels terrible about it all.

Strategies to try when you are struggling with SAD:

1. Get enough sleep
2. Eat well
3. Exercise
4. Get sunlight first thing in the morning
5. Consider phototherapy

If your seasonal affective disorder is significantly impairing your daily functioning, and especially if there is a history of depression and anxiety in your family, please seek professional help. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, in combination with other strategies, can work wonders. So, please, listen to your gut. You will be so thankful that you did and by helping yourself, you will be helping your children and family!

Tips, tricks, and resources for helping you with homeschool hibernation:

• How to Be A Happier Homeschool Mom with TeacherFit
• When Homeschooling is Hard
• Surviving the February Slump: Tips and Tricks
• A Case of the Februaries
• 5 Things You Can Do {in 10 Minutes Or Less} to Turn a Bad Day Around

Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: Do you experience homeschool hibernation? What helps you? Share here!