Student burnout and how to deal with it
College can be a busy time for students, which can lead to feelings of burnout.
According to WebMD, burnout is a form of exhaustion that is caused by constantly feeling swamped due to an excessive amount of emotional, physical and mental stress.
Amanda Willett is a staff therapist, outreach and prevention coordinator, and director of wellness for the College of Veterinary Medicine at Utah State University.
In an email, Willett said one reason students could feel burnt out is because most students are overworked.
“Students are often given an overload of homework and information, which can be hard to digest all at once, and they are trying to balance their academic, social, family and work lives all at the same time,” Willett said.
In a text message, USU senior Verl Johansen said he feels burnt out mainly due to exhaustion. Johansen said he started college right after returning from serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Last summer I worked an internship with Real Salt Lake while taking a summer semester to make sure I graduated in four years. You want to take a break to relax and do nothing for a bit, but you know if you do then you’re going to be staying up late that night to get homework assignments done,” Johansen said. “Add having a baby during your last semester and a half, and you get tired.”
Willett said there could be pressure on students to have a job while maintaining other parts of their life to pay for school, rent, gas, food and other responsibilities.
“We live in a capitalist society that promotes a hustle mentality, meaning that there is pressure for all of us to do more wherever we can,” Willett said.
Johansen said he thinks pressure comes from students themselves.
“There’s pressure from others to do things a certain way, but at the end of the day it’s us who decides if and how we let that pressure affect us,” Johansen said. “Do we let it shut us down, or do we use it as motivation to get things done, or do we not let it affect us at all?”
Willett said the first thing students should do if they are experiencing feelings of burnout is to take care of their basic needs which include food, water, sleep, comfort, safety and shelter.
“Without these in place, it is difficult for our bodies to do much else, like learn and study,” Willett said.
Willett recommended taking a reduced credit load, creating a balanced schedule for yourself, taking breaks, setting boundaries and regularly engaging in self-care.
“Do something for yourself and be present with it, even if it is small, like playing your favorite music while you shower or eating your favorite meal; it can go a long way to help us feel cared for and supported,” Willett said.
Johansen said he talks to other people who feel overwhelmed, and has learned it’s important to maintain daily habits that help you feel energized and optimistic for the day. He said some habits could be exercising, reading, praying or meditating.
“Short-term though, I find the best way to fight off burnout is to go and do something that you love to do, something that you may not get to do as often any more,” Johansen said. “It allows you to reset your mind, enjoy yourself, and be more willing to hop back into the grind of college life.”
-Savannah.Burnard@usu.edu
Featured photo by Elise Gottling