Burnout Epidemic Among Students: What Is College Burnout and How to Cope

Posted On Wednesday, 17 August 2022 21:27

Today students are taking on too much responsibility. They want to thrive academically, take a job or two to be financially independent, write top-notch papers, participate in various extracurricular and community activities, and fulfill family commitments, not to mention all the small daily tasks. To make matters worse, such a schedule often forces students to give up hobbies, healthy eating, and exercise. 

If such “busyness” becomes chronic, it leads to stress and fatigue, which with time turns into college burnout. Read on to discover what college burnout is and what to do to handle it. 

What Is College Burnout?

Burnout is a state of exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It is usually mentioned in relation to the workplace, but students experience burnout too. 

College or academic burnout happens when students feel overwhelmed by a demanding curriculum and heavy workload that drains their physical and mental resources. 

How Academic Burnout Affects You

Burnout has a number of consequences that affect your mental health, wellbeing, and attitude towards college. Researchers from the top paper writing service DoMyEssay found that it influences student behavior, emotions, and cognitive activity. Here are typical symptoms of academic burnout:

  • You feel cynical about college. Learning seems like a waste of time.
  • You feel exhausted. Irritability and headaches have become more frequent. 
  • You often skip classes and avoid extracurriculars. 
  • You rarely participate in classroom activities. 
  • Your grades have become significantly lower. 
  • You’re considering dropping out of college. 

College Burnout Statistics

Burnout is a more widespread problem than you can imagine. A study on the prevalence of burnout in dental students found that 22.3% of people experienced emotional exhaustion, and 17.9% of students had a significant decline in their academic efficacy. 

During the pandemic, the levels of burnout have drastically increased among college students. A survey conducted at the Ohio State University reported that 71% of more than a thousand responders suffered from burnout in April 2021. To compare, in August 2020, only 40% of students admitted experiencing burnout symptoms. 

Healthy Ways of Handling Burnout

If you experience burnout symptoms, it is crucial not to ignore them. Take action! Below, you will find several things you can do to alleviate pressure and recover from burnout. 

  1. Don’t Hesitate to Get Help

If you feel like you are struggling with the college workload and feel exhausted, there’s no shame in reaching out for help. You can delegate some of your papers to a writing service by asking professional writers to do my assignment for me. It will give you time to take a break and improve your health. 

Look for help within your college as well. Many schools organize support groups and individual counseling. They teach you to improve your time management and organization skills and recommend how to make your workload more manageable. 

  1. Set Priorities

Students often end up taking on more responsibilities than they can actually handle. They take extra credit work to earn better grades, apply for internships, and spend all of their free time working on extracurriculars. All these activities are beneficial, but if you experience burnout, you have to lighten your workload. This involves setting priorities and saying “no” to all things that are not essential. The goal is to reevaluate your plans and make them adequate in relation to the resources you have.

  1. Build Healthy Eating Habits

Taking care of your body is key in preventing and dealing with burnout. Start with nutrition. Some foods are rich in nutrients, reduce inflammation, and help you decrease cortisol levels:

  • Make sure your diet has vitamin B-rich foods like whole grains, meat, eggs, seeds, and nuts. 
  • Avocados, salmon, tuna, and flax seeds provide omega-3 fatty acids. 
  • Get enough magnesium that has a stress-relieving effect in bananas, broccoli, and dark chocolate. 
  • Don’t forget to have enough probiotic-rich and fermented foods to support your immune system. 
  1. Engage in Physical Activity

Exercise is known to have mental health benefits. Join a gym or one of the sports teams on campus to have regular practice. However, if you’re not into sports, there are plenty of ways for you to get physical activity. Take a walk, dance to your favorite song, or even stretch at your desk. If you don’t live far from campus, go on foot instead of using transport. You’ll immediately feel an invigorating effect!

  1. Connect With People to Build a Support System

When you feel exhausted, it might seem like you have no time to spend with friends and family. But some quality time with your close ones is exactly what you need to go through tough times. 

If you don’t have such trustful and lasting relationships, it’s never too late to cultivate them. It’s easy to do while still a student. You definitely have college projects you work on together with your peers, so reach out to them. If not, join a study group. This way, you’ll surround yourself with people and get academic support at the same time. 

  1. Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself

The causes of burnout are not always external. Sometimes students set expectations too high by themselves. They either compare themselves to others or are perfectionists who can’t accept anything less than excellence. 

Yet, if you feel like you are exhausted, take a break. It doesn’t mean that you’re weak or lazy. This is a normal way to respond to the warning signs that your body is giving you. 

The Bottom Line

College burnout is a complex issue that requires active measures. To rediscover your motivation, energy, and love for learning, you need to incorporate healthy habits into your routine. Make sure you take care of your mind and body, give yourself time to recharge, and practice self-care. But if burnout persists over an extended period of time, don’t hesitate and seek professional help. 

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