{"id":60107,"date":"2018-10-30T06:00:54","date_gmt":"2018-10-30T10:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplehomeschool.net\/?p=60107"},"modified":"2026-02-18T10:26:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:26:23","slug":"sad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplehomeschool.net\/sad\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeschooling with Seasonal Affective Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Homeschooling<\/a><\/p>\n

Homeschooling with Seasonal Affective Disorder ~
\nWritten by Cait Curley of My Little Poppies<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

It happens every year, without fail, and I don’t know if it is my age or\u00a0what<\/em>, but\u00a0each year it gets a little bit worse.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And, sometimes, it strikes all of a sudden, out of the blue… er-\u00a0gray.<\/em><\/p>\n

The homeschool year starts off okay. Great even! We crack open those new books, open a fresh sheet of notebook paper, and everywhere we look we see pencils with tips\u00a0and<\/em> erasers. The future is bright. Eyes are twinkling. We have\u00a0big plans<\/em> for the year. We feel collectively enthusiastic. We are all on one team and we are going to rock this year straight out of the park.<\/p>\n

And then, after a few weeks, it happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Suddenly, the air has a chill. The sky is more gray than blue. Every morning seems a little darker; nightfall creeps closer each afternoon.<\/p>\n

And, if you’re like me, motivation plummets.<\/p>\n

If you are homeschooling with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), this time of year can be… tricky<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n
\nSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is tied to the change in season.<\/strong>\u00a0You can read more about the disorder here<\/a>, but – in a nutshell- SAD is a type of depression that typically presents in the fall and resolves in the spring.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0BAM!<\/em> everything comes to a screeching halt. We lose steam, we get cranky, we accomplish less… and this homeschool mama feels terrible about it all.<\/p>\n

Today, I’d like to share some tips and tricks that have helped me navigate the winter blues over the years. <\/strong>I’ll be sharing strategies to help you<\/em> feel better, in addition to tricks for helping your homeschool\u00a0atmosphere<\/em> feel better.<\/p>\n

\"Homeschooling<\/a> Photo by Tracey Hocking<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

But first, an important note…<\/h2>\n

If your\u00a0seasonal 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.<\/strong> 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!<\/p>\n

How to feel your best when dealing with SAD<\/h2>\n

Sleep<\/h3>\n

My first couple of tips will seem obvious, but I know how easy it is to overlook the obvious when you aren’t feeling like yourself. Sleep is so important!<\/p>\n

Depression can impact sleep. Some people will struggle with insomnia, while others may sleep\u00a0too much.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>As a lifelong insomniac, I sort of hate when people tell me I should get more<\/em> sleep. I mean, I would if I could!\u00a0I have found that it is best to go to bed at the same time each night after a calming bedtime routine. (For me, this includes reading before bed. More on that in a second!)<\/p>\n

Eat well<\/h3>\n

I am a bit of a health nut, but I struggle with this one this time of year. It’s almost as if my body wants to hibernate. I crave carbs (helloooo there Cape Cod potato chips!<\/em>) and I have zero<\/em> desire to food prep.<\/p>\n

The thing is, eating poorly or not eating enough just makes you feel\u00a0worse.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

My solution? Keep it simple, and rely on your old tried-and-true strategies. For me, this means soup in the crockpot. For you, this might mean a rotisserie chicken and frozen veggies or a meal prep\/delivery service. Do what works for you and do\u00a0not<\/em> feel guilty about it. You can get fancy in the spring!<\/p>\n

I’ve struggled with low vitamin D for years so once the days start to shorten I use a liquid vitamin D every single day<\/em> and I do notice a difference.<\/strong> I also love love love my liquid vitamins,\u00a0especially<\/em> the one for nighttime<\/a>\u00a0(afflink) as it helps me relax and fall asleep easier.<\/p>\n

\"Homeschooling<\/a><\/p>\n

Get moving<\/h3>\n

This is another one of those easier-said-than-done suggestions, but it is one that can make an incredible difference! When I start to feel low, I flip our days. I prioritize our daily hike and make sure it happens in the morning.<\/p>\n

Yes, before<\/em> the books.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This can seem counterintuitive, but trust me- it works. Getting outside, breathing the fresh air, soaking in whatever rays the sun is offering, and connecting with your kiddos can make a world of difference when it comes to everyone’s moods and cooperation.<\/p>\n

On the days that we prioritize our morning nature time, we usually accomplish more<\/em> than those days I opt to sit at home and tackle homeschool must-dos.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Homeschooling<\/a><\/h3>\n

Nature<\/h3>\n

This goes along with the preceding topic, but nature can have a positive impact on mood. There have been oodles of scientific studies<\/a> on this one!<\/p>\n

Meditation<\/h3>\n

I am really great about daily meditation… until I start to get stressed out or super-busy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A few weeks ago, when my SAD first rolled into town, I was having a particularly down day. I had just teared up over the phone with my homeschool sister<\/a> when all of a sudden a notification popped up on my phone. It said something like this:<\/p>\n

“Hi, Cait! We haven’t seen you in a while and we miss you!”<\/em><\/p>\n

It was from Headspace<\/a>. My favorite meditation app.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The comedy of the moment made my tears turn to laughter. I resolved to complete at least three minutes per day.<\/p>\n

Three minutes.\u00a0<\/em>It seems like a ridiculously small amount of time, but I promise you that it can make a\u00a0huge<\/em> difference.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Consider phototherapy<\/h3>\n

I get outside daily, but when it comes to SAD, it’s just not enough. I’ve dabbled in phototherapy over the years, but the light we had was super-clunky and in an inconvenient spot.<\/p>\n

Last year, my husband bought a new, smaller and more portable phototherapy light<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Homeschooling<\/a><\/p>\n

I sit in front of it every morning during our Coffee and Books<\/a> routine. I have felt much better since using it daily!<\/p>\n

Inspirational reading<\/h3>\n

When I am feeling “stuck” in a homeschool rut, I love to pull out a favorite book.<\/p>\n

The following books always leave me feeling inspired:<\/strong><\/p>\n