It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Like so many ambitious undertakings before it, my Steiner journey has come to that point where momentum has stalled and motivation is at an all-time low. We’re 9 months in to our first year of homeschool preschool and I’m, well, tired.

When I began this blog in April, I set out to chronicle our journey ‘as we stumble and bumble our way toward a more meaningful family life’. I was quite clear in my vision of creating something that showed not just the pretty parts but also the struggles of a newbie Waldorf mum, because quite frankly I have been unable to find anything of the kind on the internet at all.

It can be quite intimidating to see the droves of seemingly perfect Waldorf families out there: the mothers all zen-like, perfectly in tune with nature and their children, working on another stunning handiwork project that will soon be up for sale in their Etsy shop, all while their children recite verses and frolic peacefully in the garden nearby. I wanted to reassure other families out there that are considering Steiner education that getting into the “Waldorf flow” takes time and hard work, and that the learning process is a bumpy, imperfect path.

It’s a huge change to go from “mainstream” living to this lifestyle of mindful connection to our family, our earth and ourselves. Naturally, like any journey, there are bound to be periods of struggle.

Yet, five months in and so far my posts haven’t shown much in the way of my struggles at all.  I have been reluctant to share them, despite my clear intentions when creating this blog. I thought: no one wants to read about my intermittent visits to Struggle Town!

But I have come to my senses, folks.

I know well from my past that struggling is when things start to get interesting. It’s those moments where we are most exhausted and stuck that provide us with opportunities to take our journey to a deeper level. And that is what I am doing right now. It’s ¾ of the way through the Australian academic year, a very typical time to run out of steam a little bit. If you too have been suffering from symptoms of Waldorf burn out, fear no more. I have a plan of attack!

 Robyn’s Top Ten List to Beat Waldorf Burn Out

1. Ask for help: what would make things easier?

   Running a household, on top of attempting home based preschool, on top of working part time (or fulltime!), on top of writing a blog, on top of (fill in the blank for your personal circumstances). Whatever your personal circumstances are, there are barriers to our success in the form of having too many jobs to do with too little time to do them. The solution is to outsource as much as possible. Have a look at your friends, family and finances and shuffle things around, if you are able, to allow for help wherever you can find it. I like to call these ‘Mama life hacks‘ (I happen to have written a post on this very topic here). While I appreciate that it may not be possible for everyone to hire in a cleaner or pay someone else to do the ironing, perhaps it might be sometime to save toward once a month. Other hacks that also have the happy consequence of building your social network include arranging meal swaps or organising a childcare swap with other busy mamas. All of these things will free up time for you and your family and, ultimately, for your homeschool. A huge part of my burn out was related to the burden of (on top of all the domestic stuff) coming up with activities, crafts and stories each week for our homeschool preschool. I would spend a good part of every Saturday and Sunday morning pouring over Pinterest, planning out my week ahead, but I found on those weeks where I wasn’t able to carve out that planning time everything would go to hell. Why was I trying to re-invent the wheel?? Time to outsource, mama! Now, in addition to the materials I purchased last year from Christopherus Homeschool Resources, I have just purchased curriculum through Earthschooling and, fingers crossed, a huge part of my work each week will now be lessened. I think because we are only doing preschool this year I had reservations about paying for or using a more prescriptive “curriculum” since (to me) that word reeks of academia and, of course, I am all against academia in preschool. Naturally, Waldorf preschool curriculum is nothing to do with academics, it is about supporting the mother to integrate stories and fingerplays and simple crafts into the rhythm of the household, which is precisely what I am seeking to provide. Only now, I don’t have to spend my weekends searching for content, I can focus more on family and rest. Bottom line: find some life hacks and use them. Eliminate the barriers and experience flow.

2. Cut out the excess

   What can you cut out in your weekly rhythm to simplify your life? Where are you over committed? For me, the slower pace of Waldorf living has gotten a bit lost lately. Without actually meaning to, commitments have crept in and somehow taken precedence over our rhythm. The solution: say yes to less, analyse each week and ensure there are LOTS of gaping holes in the calendar, and fight back against the “have-to’s” of modern living. Think you “have to” attend that family friend’s toddler’s birthday party this weekend (the 3^rd one this month!) because they came to your toddler’s birthday party? No, you don’t. Drop a gift past next week and send your apologies. Think you ‘have to’ do the shopping today even though the kids are having a hard day? No, you don’t. There is likely to be SOMETHING in the pantry you can make for dinner without having to leave the house today. Breakfast for dinner is one of my personal life-saving dinner solutions when I’m absolutely stuck (who says pancakes can’t be had for supper? Especially when they are secretly healthy – check out this AMAZING spinach banana pancake recipe that has saved my backside on more than one occasion). Shop tomorrow, or do an online order for home delivery. Think you “have to” take that call from your bestie who is having a personal crisis and needs to talk it out? No, you don’t. Not right now anyway. It is a common practice these days to feel as if we “have to” make ourselves available at all times on our phones to anyone who wishes to reach out to us. Ring your bestie back when the kids are in bed, or if you don’t have it in you today to offer your energy to anyone else but you and your family, don’t feel guilty about that. Send your friend a gentle text wishing her love and let her know that you will be there for her when you are able to be available in the way that she deserves. And then pat yourself on the back for being strong enough to know your own limits and drawing that line in the sand that you are no longer willing to cross at the expense of your family’s wellbeing.

3. Focus on one aspect of self improvement at a time

   I’m one of those types that try to do it all at once. I read a lot, I do lots of research, I *know* where I am lacking and I *know* the steps I should be taking to improve myself. And yet, I’m still this incredibly flawed creature that day after day keeps making the same mistakes and doing the opposite of what I say I want to be doing. Crazy, right? My greatest personal challenge lately has been parenting my children with less reactivity and more gentleness. I am sad to admit that I have not been managing these challenges very well lately. I have a number of things I am working on at the moment: smile more, speak less, pause and centre myself before reacting when something angers me, remind myself not to take their words personally. I noticed recently that I have been trying to do ALL of these things every day and instead have been failing to do a single one all that well. Now, I am very specific about putting my focus on ONE item on the list for as long as it takes before these actions become less of an effort and more like second nature. And then I will move on to the next item on the list. This type of approach forces me to slow down, to get more specific in my goals and to master one challenge before attempting the next.

4. Connect to the greater Waldorf community

   Whether you and your family are affiliated with an established Steiner School or whether you are going it alone in a homeschool environment, there are resources available to you to lean into as support. Establishing and nurturing a connection to others who are likeminded in their beliefs, parenting philosophies and lifestyle can be invaluable in rejuvenating connection to what made you choose this path in the first place. Others in the Waldorf circle will know what you are going through in your journey and may be able to offer insight and encouragement to continue, where others who are less familiar with Steiner’s teachings may not be able to support you in a way that will enliven your enthusiasm after the initial honeymoon period of a new project has waned. If you are affiliated with an established school, no doubt they will have a plethora of community engagement options available to you. Our school offers monthly adult self improvement lectures based on Steiner’s teachings, as well as more social opportunities such as craft circle, choir etc. Any of these options will do the job of connecting you to others who will ground you in your purpose and help you stay focussed on the path you set out to walk. If you are not affiliated with any particular school, check out these forums for support:
   http://www.mothering.com/forum/285-waldorf/
   http://waldorfparents.blogspot.com.au/
   https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfHomeschoolForum

5. Re-ignite inspiration

   If you have been feeling burnt out on your Waldorf journey, it helps to take inspiration from others who are currently experiencing flow along their own path. I find that a good Pinterest session can be invigorating to inspire, but be cautious not to become too overwhelmed by how awesome everything out there is, lest it discourage you at this low-energy stage along your path. Reading established Waldorf blogs written by more experienced members of the Steiner community is also invaluable. And there is nothing quite like the experience of attending a Steiner event through the Waldorf community: check if your local school or playgroup are hosting a fete, Spring Fair or school tour that you can attend to draw inspiration from.

6. Begin (and finish!) a small, easy creative project

   Nothing sparks up energy, enthusiasm and momentum faster than having a quick and gratifying creative “win”. If, like me, you have been stuck in a rut with all things Waldorf, it’s likely that your creative centre has been a bit blocked. The best way to tackle this, after a bit of spiritual attention to the matter, is to embark on a creative project that can be completed quickly with minimal effort but will give you the little inner boost necessary to get motivation moving again. As for me, I’m starting off tonight by making a few gnomes to add to our Spring nature table. These are easy to complete in one or two evenings, depending on what embellishments you are looking to include. Other easy win options include a needle felted fairy or “painting” of a nature scene, a watercolour creation featuring seasonal colours or, perhaps, if you already have the skill set, a simple crochet or knitting project. The point is nothing too ambitious, just something you can point to by week’s end (or day’s end!) and say to yourself: “That looks fabulous! Go, me! I can’t wait to make another one!”. Sha-pow, you’re back on the Waldorf path once more.

7. Self care

   Ah, yes. That old chestnut. We all know it’s true that we must fill our own cups in order to be able to give of our own energy and resources. The task of parenting a child mindfully is demanding work. The greatest gift we can offer our family and ourselves is a dedication to our own self care. This may mean something completely different for you than it does for me. For me, I know that I must prioritise daily yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Also, as an individual who spent much of my time alone before marriage and children, it is important that I find ways to carve out time for solitude each week. Others may find that they have a need to spend time with friends, read a book, go to the gym or take a hike in nature. Whatever self care means to you, find a way to prioritise it, and dedicate some time each day or, at the very least, each week.

8. Ensure you are grounded in spirit

   When I am stuck in any area of my life you can be sure that, without realising it, I have become ungrounded, disconnected and negligent of my relationship to spirit. Whatever that word means for you, in order for us all to experience “flow” in life, we must first be in tune with the common energy that ties us all to one another and to the earth. Like self care, above, I can often neglect this area of my life, despite believing as I do that spiritual balance must be top priority before we can hope to achieve ease and success in our pursuits. Start with a morning meditation before the rest of the house is awake, or alternatively a session before retiring to bed. I have been using some guided meditations through Gaiam TV, check them out here.

9. Adult education: tackle one lesson at a time

   I don’t know about you, but I have a pile of books that I am slowly chewing through next to my bed and I’m maybe a quarter of the way through every single one of them. These books are all related to Steiner theory, educational philosophy and child development. I am so impatient that I have yet to finish one before cracking open a new addition to the library, but I do myself a disservice when I approach them this way. Self-guided adult education requires a slow pace and steady, undistracted consumption of its teachings, particularly those relating to spirituality, personal growth or concepts that require much reframing of consciousness. And so it is that I have made a commitment to reading just ONE book at a time. I will let the information I have received sit for a time before tackling the next book. This way, the teachings on offer can be absorbed without distraction. I encourage others who are stuck in a rut to do the same.

10. Take a step back. Rest, let it lie for awhile before coming back to it

    The last item on my list might well be better placed as the first. Taking a breather from the intensity of a new pursuit for a period of rest and reflection is not a bad thing. Mental or intellectual exhaustion can come when we bombard ourselves too quickly with new information. Take some time and let go of whatever notions you have of how things must proceed. When you feel ready, set yourself small, achievable goals and work on them one at a time. Begin this list from the top and I hope by the time you get to number 9 you will have found your way once more, this time with greater depth and passion.

Sending all other Waldorf parents out there love and encouragement for wherever you are along your path. Cracks in the earth are part of her beauty, so too are the cracks along our own paths toward change and growth.

With love,

Robyn