In a day and age where it seems as though the new norm is having all the time in the world to do everything, that may not exactly be the case for students who feel the pressures of burnout. A condition and state of being where because of extraneous stress from school, work, and family being placed upon an individual, they feel as though they have lost motivation in their work and are in a constant state of fatigue, especially in a mental context. Unfortunately, with the transitions to exclusively online work and schooling has set forth a goal of unrealistic expectations for students to attempt to meet and do it all. The already blurred boundary between work, school, and life has become even thinner with students who feel as though they are staring at a screen all day with no escape. While it may seem as though this is something that can easily be shaken off and ignored, it is important to acknowledge the signs and symptoms of burnout and find different ways of coping through everyday life activities.

Acknowledging That You Are Experiencing Burn Out

With any issue that we are facing, it is always difficult to come to terms with it, as we may feel as though this is just a passing phase of life. However, it is important to take a step back and realize that it is okay to not be okay sometimes as we are human beings not machines. Forcing yourself to push through things and promoting the idea of working yourself to the bone can be harmful to your mental and physical health, as common signs and symptoms are numbness, constant tiredness, lack of motivation, finding constant negativity, having headaches, constant nausea, backaches, and loss of purpose to name a few. If you notice any of the following, it is important to take time to reflect and realize what you are experiencing as it may not just be a passing phase. Acknowledging a struggle is a large step in a direction of healing and self-improvement.

Methods and Strategies to Cope With Burn Out

Upon the realization that you may need to seek help or reevaluate the pressures of life, it can become overwhelming when figuring out where to start. However, there are many ways to cope that lay hidden in everyday activities in life. One being embracing the tasks that make us people such as maybe taking time to clean your room or going grocery shopping can give us a break from school work or remote jobs while still maintaining a level of productivity. Small breaks such as these can also help put into perspective your prioritization of workload. While in theory, it may seem that getting everything done in one day might free up time in the long run, when we place that exorbitant amount of pressure on ourselves we will often see that the free time we are planning for never seems to come around because of this overwhelming amount of pressure being exuded. By analyzing different tasks like homework, projects, application or job submissions, etc. and separating them based on due dates and amount of workload, you are able to work more efficiently in smaller amounts and have more time to rest your mind and body. Lastly, limiting screen time when it is not needed during work and school can be instrumental in allowing your body to heal and recuperate. Instead of online shopping or scrolling through social media, exercising or taking a walk outside can provide a sense of normality and peace in the midst of adversity.

It can be very difficult not to fall victim to the social norm of powering through the many hurdles that may come across us. Even though the perception of being a person who is a jack of all trades, may seem desirable in theory it does not present itself in the same fashion if it means having to sacrifice your own mental and physical well-being because of it. Taking care of yourself and your individual needs is a necessity in achieving the different goals and strides that you have set out for yourself. The concern for yourself is valid and in times where it may seem all is lost, remember that there is help and ways to overcome these obstacles in every avenue.