Too often, burnout carries a stigma that a person is weak or that they’re unable to deal with a difficult situation, making people feel as though they can’t open up about experiencing it. Burnout is a critical issue, and it shouldn’t be swept under the rug. Burnout is an especially prevalent issue among students; they are tasked with piles of homework and unrealistic expectations while also dealing with a lack of sleep, family matters and sometimes a job or two on top of that.
Balancing education, jobs and having a personal and social life can be exhausting–both mentally and physically. This can lead to students feeling depleted and cynical about school. Eventually, they might feel as if they have nothing more to give or like nothing they do is ever good enough.
Students experiencing burnout may show a decrease in engagement in school and usual activities, as well as worsened academic engagement and performance and a lack of motivation. These effects on education and performance alone can lead to worsened mental health.
According to Mayo Clinic, burnout often leads to excessive stress, fatigue, sadness or irritability and even increased blood pressure. People may also be more prone to substance abuse or mental illnesses such as anxiety or depression, making it especially crucial to address initial burnout and get help before it worsens.
Burnout often occurs when people are faced with ongoing stress or frustration without many chances to relax and recharge. While experiencing stress in small amounts is normal, it turns into a problem when the amount of work and stress becomes nonstop.
In order to deal with burnout and its effects, people first need to know the signs, which can include feelings of exhaustion, depersonalization and irritability, according to the National Institute of Health. People may also experience frequent headaches, trouble concentrating, difficulty finishing or even starting tasks and feelings of uselessness or hopelessness.
It is important to be familiar with these signs, as it not only teaches people what to look out for in cases of burnout, but it could even help prevent burnout from occurring or worsening further.
People shouldn’t be afraid to admit that they are experiencing burnout. It is a serious issue that impacts everyone, and it can have severe consequences. To prevent burnout from getting worse, one can find relaxation methods that work for them, take a break from what they’re doing, set goals, focus on time management to stay on schedule and develop healthy eating and sleeping habits. One may also seek professional help and go to therapy, as well as take medication for any potential underlying mental illnesses.
Vanessa Werner can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @VanessaRWerner