Managing Burnout As Students
As students, it’s common to receive stress and pressure from those around us which may eventually wear us out. We may try to do everything we want to and need to yet know that we do not have enough time, energy, or even the mental capacity to do more. When we ignore fatigue, it builds up until we get burnout.
What is burnout?
There are instances when our workload feels like too much. At times we may feel as if it is impossible to do the next task and may begin to lose interest in our hobbies, extracurriculars, and social activity. According to the World Health Organization, this phenomenon is known as burnout. It is not a medical condition. Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that is a result of chronic stress specifically from one’s workplace or occupation. When our plate is so full of work, studying, sports, and activity may tire us out because it becomes unmanageable – even suffocating. It becomes increasingly difficult to want to do these anymore and the things that once mattered do not hold as much meaning to us.
The sensation worsens when the signs remain ignored.
Symptoms of burnout:
The common signs of burnout fall into three main categories: physical, emotional, and behavioral.
Physical symptoms:
Stomachaches
Headaches
Susceptibility to more illnesses/sickness (weakened immune system)
Changes in sleep and eating habits
Fatigue
Exhaustion/decreased energy
Emotional symptoms:
Cynicism
Motivation loss
Hopelessness and helplessness
Sense of feeling alone in the world
Less satisfaction
Feelings of failure and self doubt
Behavioral symptoms:
Procrastination
Substance usage/overuse as coping mechanism
Breakdowns
Isolation
Reduced work performance
What can I do to manage burnout?
Take a step back and evaluate your state. Examine specific parts of your school life that may be overloading your plate and find the source. This might be academics, friends, sports, hobbies, or extracurriculars. Then, identify realistic changes that you can make that may alter how much that source affects you.
One way to counteract burnout or even healthily cope is by speaking up about the burnout to your teachers, parents, friends, or a health professional. It is also helpful to focus on your health. Sleeping early, getting enough sleep, exercising, staying hydrated, eating nutritious foods, limiting social media usage and keeping up with healthy habits are all small ways toward building yourself up from exhaustion. When the burnout is unbearable, take breaks. Recognize that you are the utmost priority.
Written By: Sunny Han
Sources:
Darling Downs Health. (2021, November 22). Signs you might be experiencing a burnout and how to regain balance in your life. Darling Downs Health; Queensland Government. https://www.darlingdowns.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/our-stories/feature-articles/signs-you-might-be-experiencing-a-burnout-and-how-to-regain-balance-in-your-life
Psychology Today. (2019). Burnout. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/burnout
Raypole, C. (2020, March 30). Dealing with burnout? These tips and strategies may help. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/burnout-recovery
World Health Organization. (2019, May 28). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International classification of diseases. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases
