Being a college student has many challenges– attending classes, doing homework, being involved on campus, and caring for yourself. However, not knowing how to balance your academic and social responsibilities can lead to burnout.
The term “burnout,” is different from stress. According to Malvern Behavioral Health, feeling stressed every once in a while is healthy. However, if the stress starts to overwhelm a person to the point where they are struggling with their daily activities and responsibilities, that is not healthy and is consistent with burnout.
“The association describes burnout as ‘physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance, and negative attitudes toward oneself and others,’” reporter for the Hechinger Report Olivia Sanchez said.
This semester, I thought I was stressed and the signs I was having were normal. However, I learned from my research that my symptoms were more closely associated with burnout. I didn’t want to reach out for help and thought I could manage it, but it led me to a point where I couldn’t handle it and my health kept declining.
Sometimes, college students do not know how to address their stress, especially when identifying unhealthy signs. Having responsibilities can be overwhelming and stressful, especially at this life stage.
Citing the National College Health Assessment, Malvern Behavioral Health reports, “80% of college students reported feeling overwhelmed, and 40% reported it was difficult to function.”
Burnout symptoms can vary depending on the individual. Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Anna Guerin said physical symptoms will be the first signs to notice and then the psychological signs will follow.
According to Higher ED Drive, over four in five college seniors have experienced burnout, marked by lacking motivation and chronic exhaustion.
“If you think life as a plate, some people will fill their plate a lot,” Guerin said. “Then it’s hard to take things off or you don’t want to take things off.”
I was struggling with balancing my social responsibilities. I quit my internship so I could have more time with my academic responsibilities, but then I worked myself to the point of exhaustion. I couldn’t wake up in the mornings, and I wasn’t taking care of myself. That’s when I realized letting go of the things that did not make me feel good or having a hard time can lead to knowing it’s not the end of the world.
“Female students generally report 15% higher levels of burnout compared to male students,” Crown Counseling Doctor of Psychology and Clinical Director Elka Jacobs-Pinson.
It is important to know what your passions and interests are before committing to something, so it is important to try new things and see if they work out.
“As you’re exploring, if you realize something isn’t really connected to you, you don’t have to keep doing it,” Rick Hankins, visiting professor within the Humanities Division said.
Even the idea of being perfect can lead to feeling burnout. Guiren said being a perfectionist can be hard, and typically, students under this category have a hard time saying no or finding balance with their responsibilities.
Hankins said staying true to themselves and doing one thing they love at least once a week can fight burnout.
“It’s important to create a safe space where they can come forward, not with a question about class but a question about life,” Hankins said.
In general, college students who are experiencing burnout should know that they are not alone in their struggles. Ask for support from friends, family, professors, and counselors. It’s time to ask for help and get rid of burnout for good.
