Burnout is real! For those who are unfamiliar with the term, burnout is a state of exhaustion caused by prolonged stress–for instance, that club to manage, those weekly tests in that five-credit class, or that big semester paper to write. In simple terms, burnout occurs when stress is not addressed properly. In the article “Burnout Prevention and Treatment,” we find the signs and treatment of burnout. The signs of burnout include loss of motivation, feeling self-doubt, fatigue, and decreased productivity. The treatment for it is called the “Three R” approach.
The Signs of Burnout.
Whenever you begin to feel less motivation, self-doubt, fatigue, or become less productive, you may be experiencing burnout. As college students, we are guaranteed to feel this at one point or another.
Some people may confuse burnout with stress. There are differences, however, between stress and burnout. Stress is characterized by over-engagement while burnout is characterized by disengagement. For example, stress might be caused when you have two tests to study for, multiple errands to run, that AFIA event to help out in, and a bunch of meetings to attend in the coming week. You might spend hours studying, trying to squeeze every minute out of your time. You may be experiencing burnout, however, when you feel too tired to study for those tests. When you have a hard time getting out of bed and walking across a cold campus in the morning because the day just seems too daunting. You lose the energy to participate in anything, and it can be hard to go through the motions of life.
One serious effect of burnout is making one feel like life is not worth living. It is important to be able to recognize if you are experiencing burnout and what the causes are. The things that can lead to burnout include lack of control over work assignments, experiencing isolation or loneliness, lack of sleep, negative thinking, or working too much. These causes are easy to pick out but are often overlooked. When faced with burnout, one must treat it properly.
The Three R Approach.
The Three R Approach refers to the approach that employs three steps: Recognize, Reverse, Resilience.
The first step, Recognize, is to watch for any possible signs or symptoms that one may be experiencing burnout. Are you feeling especially tired when going to class? Do you feel drained by simple interactions with others? Does Sam’s Chicken at the cafe fail to bring you the joy it used to? It is important to realize quickly if burnout is occurring by asking yourself questions along these lines.
The second step, Reverse, is to undo the damage of burnout by seeking support and managing stress. You could manage your stress by reconnecting with friends or FaceTiming your family, or taking a trip to the Andreasen Center for a refreshing swim or a good gym session. You could take a break from school and do something fun instead.
The third step, Resilience, is to build resistance to stress by caring for your physical and mental health. If you have a quieter week, you could take a self-care day -- maybe go to Silver Beach with some friends, treat yourself to your favorite dessert, or simply go to bed early. Be attentive to how your mind and body are feeling throughout the day. Make sure you eat healthy foods and get enough rest when you can. Caring for yourself can help prevent future burnout and help maintain overall well-being.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.