In recent years, burnout has shifted from a warning sign to something worn as a badge of honor.
Students compare their sleepless nights, overloaded schedules and constant stress as markers of dedication and commitment rather than symptoms of a deeper problem.
“You’re impressing other people, you’re getting that sort of social feedback, that’s rewarding,” said Eric Thrailkill, UVM Professor of Psychological Sciences.
A study published in BMC Medical Education found that of 22,983 college students surveyed, 55.16% had a certain degree of academic burnout. Only 9.5% of respondents reported that the stress of studying and other external pressures was minimal.
Burnout is a syndrome that results from chronic stress within work, school and social life, which can cause unwanted physical and psychological consequences.
Issues associated with burnout include chronic exhaustion, difficulty focusing and feeling emotionally numb. The condition is also associated with headaches, digestive issues and muscle tension.
In many cases, burnout seems to become a way to build connection. People may find it easier to talk about burnout than other topics because it is often a common experience, according to first-year Cora Davis.
“Definitely during midterms, it was something that my friends and I would talk about a lot, like, ‘Oh, I’m feeling so burnt out because of XYZ class or something,’” Davis said.
Burnout culture tends to thrive in spaces where there is a higher emphasis on productivity and success than on well-being. The pressure to succeed, secure internships and maintain a high GPA while staying socially engaged can create a sense of constant urgency.
Many students may arrive on campus with high expectations and a desire to “do it all,” but those expectations do not always align with reality.
Patrick McManus, a first-year and sophomore student advisor, noted that burnout occurs when expectations don’t meet the reality of an experience. He says students may have expectations for how they should perform, and if that expectation isn’t met, students take it as a sign to do more
This desire leads to chronic stress, sleep deprivation and a diminished sense of motivation: the standard signs of burnout. Even when struggling with the symptoms of burnout, students are still under pressure to complete their schoolwork and fulfill extracurricular commitments
“There’s a lack of motivation and knowing that you have to do stuff, but not actually having time or wanting to do it, even though you have to,” Davis said.
Over time, rest can come to be seen as something students feel they cannot prioritize. Even when they recognize the signs of burnout, ongoing demands and expectations can be difficult to put aside.
“You hear stories about how people at different universities are successful … you base your expectations on that, but that may be exaggerated,” Thrailkill said.
While burnout can often be framed as an internal battle, Thrailkil argues that it is shaped just as much by external factors.
Some may blame burnout on internal factors like personality and self-esteem, forgetting factors like school, learning pressure, family support and economic status.
“Internal is what gets people turned around. We need to focus on things like the environment that we create or put ourselves in,” said Thrailkill. “Do you have a healthy balance of work, activities you get enjoyment from and ways to decompress?”
Finding a balance between social, academic and work life is key to avoiding burnout, said Thrailkill. He gave an example from his own life, adding that he likes to volunteer because it is completely different from sitting at a desk all day.
“Just switching things up and taking breaks, I think, is really just generally helpful to avoid burnout,” Thrailkill said. “You can sort of come back refreshed if you go out and take a break by, you know, doing something, even if it’s something like interacting with new people.”
However, students do not have to navigate burnout alone. There are many resources on campus available to students who may be struggling, McManus said.
“These students, often halfway through the term, feel they need support, and a lot of those are just completely non-academic supports,” He said.
McManus recommends that students advocate for themselves as early as they can and should get in touch with the UVM Center for Health and Wellbeing or UVM CAPS if they need support.
“Even if it’s another thing to put on your to-do list, definitely reach out because I guarantee it will make the weight of the burnout a lot easier to bear,” McManus said.
