How to Identify and Deal With Burnout

Mar 24

Studies have shown that at least 51% of students get told that they seem burnt out every month. A combination of academics, clubs, and extracurriculars can take a toll on a teenager’s mental health. Burnout is especially important to address among youth because of the potential consequences it may cause, including depression, substance abuse, and even physical health issues. Here are ways to identify, manage, and prevent burnout.

What is burnout and what does it mean to be burnt out?

According to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), “burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.” It can be caused by many different factors including, but not limited to, school, work, lifestyle, and sports. Being burnt out can cause you to feel tired mentally and physically and can take a toll on your body and mind.

Signs and symptoms of burnout may include:

Physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and changes in appetite/sleep.
Emotional symptoms such as helplessness, a sense of failure or self-doubt, and loss of motivation. There can also be behavioural indicators, which include reduced performance in everyday tasks, outbursts, unwillingness to do tasks that normally make them happy, and procrastination.

For more information about the signs and symptoms of burnout, visit this link.

There are also stressors you can look out for, for example:

Taking on too many responsibilities
A heavy workload at work/school
Lack of social interaction

The first step is recognizing burnout, the next step is finding ways to help yourself overcome it.

How to overcome burnout:

Take care of yourself, whether that be a self-care day, lunch with friends, or simply sleeping in.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Reach out to your friends and family — they’re there to support you.
Do things that bring you joy!

For more examples on how to overcome burnout, visit this link.

After overcoming burnout, the final step is finding ways to prevent it.

How to prevent burnout:

Identify stressors or causes of your burnout. Identifying them can help you manage them better.
Find ways to reduce or manage your stressors. For example: Plan out and take note of upcoming deadlines so that you can get a head start. This can help you feel less overwhelmed when many deadlines approach. Here are some ways you can manage stress/stressors.
Get enough sleep! A good night's rest is important for your mental health. Adolescents should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night.
Take care of yourself, whether that be through a self-care day once a month or a night out with friends.

Communications Team