Burnout has been on the rise in the current population of college students. Burnout goes beyond feeling tired after a long day; it is prolonged physical and mental exhaustion. This can be triggered by several different stressors such as academic overload, societal expectations or even just experiencing a lack of sleep.
Burnout can be caused by work environments and other obligations beyond school work. By constantly working and having what feels like never ending commitments, exhaustion will only continue to worsen.
Regarding susceptibility to burnout, it is often argued that student athletes are more likely to experience it. However, a student’s individual personality is deeply tied to how they will experience burn out.
Dr. Tim Hodges, Director of Baker Counseling Center, discussed what students are more likely to be vulnerable to burn out, “It really depends on personality. Any student regardless of their involvement, extracurricular wise, I think students who are prone to anxiety and depression are going to be set up for burn out, but I think [being] a perfectionist is the deadliest thing.”
Burnout occurs beyond being a student. It can be seen within educators as well as administrators. When educators are worn down and tired, it can lead to unsatisfactory student experiences and potentially even negatively impact their education. Teaching effectiveness is is a key factor in a student’s education. When one’s educator is also experiencing burnout, it can lessen the likelihood for students to seek assistance with the burnout they are facing.
According to The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, symptoms associated with burnout includes headaches, emotional exhaustion, difficulty processing, isolation, procrastination, etc. These symptoms can impact the outcome of a student’s work in negative ways, potentially leading to academic failure.
Unlike feeling overwhelmed or tired, burnout does not go away after a good night’s rest. It lingers over time, especially if it is not addressed. In the case of realizing one had developed symptoms of burnout, there are a few techniques that can be utilized. The number one rule is recognizing symptoms and not ignoring your body. Even though it is easier said than done, attempting to
manage stress levels will help to limit the severity of burnout. When seeking assistance in managing burnout symptoms, there is a large number of people able to help.
On Baker’s campus, different resources that can assist with burnout are the Counseling Center, Student Academic Success, located in the lower level of Collin’s Library, and the Student Affairs Office on the third floor of the Union.
Dr. Tim Hodges described the warning signs that faculty and staff typically notice in students who are experiencing burnout.
“Most professors are generally good about reading the room, and the class sizes help. Seeing students’ anxious faces, missing class and missing assignments,” said Hodges.
Although this has become a widespread issue, different organizations are working to learn more about how to prevent burn out. There are various prevention tactics that can be used to prevent burnout. The University of Georgia provides a list of tactics that could be utilized as prevention.
The first approach to hindering burnout is making sure to spend time outside of academics doing enjoyable activities. Giving yourself a break in the middle of the week to do enjoyable activities is crucial to gaining motivation for the week. Some enjoyable activities outside of academics that are beneficial for one’smental health is spending time outside or working to get plenty of exercise.
In regard to prevention centered around academics, it is important to set a goal for yourself and stick to it. Whether that is avoiding procrastination, developing strong time management skills or setting a worklife balance for yourself, developing strategies to combat burnout in crucial.
Burnout may be common, but it does not have to be certain. By understanding your personal causes and recognizing signs of burnout, steps can be taken towards improvement. By taking steps forward, individuals can start to have a healthier and more sustainable education.
