What is Burnout?

Burnout is more than just not wanting to do your work; burnout is a form of chronic stress from extended periods of mental, emotional, or physical exhaustion. Burnout often forms when people are forced to navigate multiple, intersecting life stressors over extended periods of time. Academic burnout refers to this chronic stress within the context of academia, and many students report experiencing academic burnout.

Additionally, students with pre-existing mental health conditions like anxiety and depression are more likely to experience higher levels of burnout (Koutsimani et al., 2019). Burnout can also be more severe among students navigating and surviving intersecting systems of oppression, including discrimination, exclusion, and exploitation within academic settings (Teshome, 2022).

Man rubbing his eyes in distress while sitting in front of laptop
Neon sign that says "burnout"

Signs of Burnout

  • low concentration and motivation

  • decreased sleep and appetite

  • decreased interest in activities that were once fulfilling 

  • decreased confidence in academic abilities and/or poor academic performance

  • missing deadlines

  • increased physical and emotional exhaustion

  • increased feelings of anxiety and/or irritability

  • increased feelings of depression and/or apathy

  • high frequency of physical illness

What Causes Burnout?

Burnout can result from juggling multiple life stressors at once. Within academic settings, overwork and exhaustion are already common on top of other forms of stress. Many students are already navigating different combinations of...  

  • academic responsibilities

  • work obligations 

  • social stressors

  • financial stressors 

  • health conditions

  • parenting or other care-taking responsibilities

  • community responsibilities 

  • discrimination and marginalization

Over time, your energy and capacity to navigate these challenges might become depleted while you are simultaneously expected to maintain good academic performance. This combination can create the foundation for reoccurring burnout.

Student sitting in a dimly-lit room looking stressed in front of her laptop

How to Address Burnout

  

Visit the Academic Success Center where you and a Strategist or Academic Coach can review your current academic strategies and create new plans for moving forward. 

  

Sometimes our feelings of overwhelm and overwork are connected to things beyond our control. Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a number of services to support your mental health.

  

Schedule more breaks to give your mind time to decompress between work sessions. Check out our worksheet on designing and taking effective breaks. 

  

Develop an effective sleep routine. Research has linked higher rates of burnout to poor sleep quality and frequency. Learn more about sleep and learning here. 

  

Make a list of your stressors and identify which are within and outside of your control. Use this list to decide what steps you can take to reduce your stressors.

  

Set boundaries and remember that it is okay to say “no.” Practice delegating what you can to others, declining added stressors, and asking for support when it’s needed.

   

Burnout thrives in feelings of isolation and loneliness. If you’re feeling burnout regularly, reach out to a friend, family member, or other trusted support person. 

  

Celebrate your efforts, not just your outcomes. Try acknowledging all the work you are doing to reduce your stress and improve your current situation.