It’s 3 days until Christmas and students everywhere are trying to make the most of their holiday breaks. Some are catching up on sleep, some are dashing to finish last minute shopping, while others are just trying to get as much time in with friends and family. The end of December brings a reprieve from homework, tests, and extra-curricular activities. For a brief time students have the opportunity to think about something other than school. This is the time to rest and relax.
By the end of the year many students are simply exhausted. All the demands of the past semester have left them drained and depressed. Even with this break a lot of teenagers lack the motivation to continue working at their best in the new year. Prolonged exposure to pressure and stress can cause burnout which often leads to poor performance.
A problem once associated this problem with overworked adults, burnout can happen at any age. More and more college, high school, and even middle school students are suffering from burnout. While some students are more prone to experiencing this type of exhaustion, under the right circumstances any student is susceptible to burnout. It’s important to understand that burnout is not something that happens only to the weak in mind or spirit and there is no shame in feeling overwhelmed or exhausted. Burnout is simply the sign that something is off balanced and needs to be readjusted.
The good news is that burnout can either be reversed or avoided all together. Acknowledging the potential of burnout is an important first step in getting help. Sometimes a simply break is all that is needed, other times students need to dramatically change their lifestyles.
Take time this holiday break and ask yourself. “Am I or someone I know suffering from burnout?” If the answer is yes, then don’t start the new year without talking to a trusted parent or guardian.
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