“Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands,” according to Helpguide.org.
August 2020 was the first full year back during the pandemic, which caused an overall increase in burnout among students. With Finals Week approaching, another spike in burnout is expected.
“The number of students reporting feelings of burnout leaped 31 percentage points during the last academic year, from 40 percent of students in August 2020 to 71 percent in April of 2021,” according to Teachingreport.org.
“Lack of control, unclear expectations, dysfunctional workplace dynamics, extreme activities, lack of social support and a work-life imbalance are all things that lead to burnout,” according to Mayo Clinic.
Burnout can lead to things like “Excessive stress, Fatigue, Insomnia, Sadness, anger or irritability, Alcohol or substance misuse, Heart disease, High blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, [and] Vulnerability to illnesses,” according to Mayo Clinic.
Mayo Clinic recommends asking the following questions to identify burnout:
- Have you become cynical?
- Do you drag yourself to work every day?
- Do you find it hard to concentrate?
- Are you using drugs or alcohol to cope after the workday has ended?
- Are you experiencing headaches, stomach problems, or feeling fatigued all the time?
Students may be experiencing burnout if they answer yes to anything listed above.
There is no medical cure for burnout, but there are useful strategies for minimizing its impacts or development.
Forbes magazine recommends working at a desk and keeping it organized.
Additionally, avoid working during your free time and non-work-related activities. Both strategies help separate work from the rest of your life.
Mayo Clinic recommends “evaluating your options, seeking support, trying a relaxing activity, getting some exercise, getting some sleep, and being mindful and aware of your feelings and emotions.”
Some other ways to avoid burnout are setting a designated work time, eating healthily, and taking breaks when needed according to Forbes.
Reaching out to professors can also be beneficial.
“Don’t let it paralyze you. You are awesome and capable and will move forward from it. and Ask for help. So much of life is about asking for help and helping others,” English professor Ashley Burchett said.
Ignoring burnout could be detrimental to a student’s wellbeing, so it is important that they recognize it before it is too late.
Forbes recommends first identifying when burnout has occurred, and then addressing it’s causes in order. Once causes are identified, address them in order of importance and impact on your life to mitigate or reduce burnout in a timely manner.
