The Truth of Burnout – And How to Avoid It
After a very long and very necessary break, the Study Strong blog is back! If I’m being honest, I had to take a break because I was struggling with the very real consequence of productivity without rest: burnout. I would work around the clock, staying up late most nights and waking up early most mornings. Though I absolutely loved the work I was doing and enjoyed spending time working on my career goals, I was drained, exhausted, and stressed. The problem? I didn’t take time to fill my own cup.
My Experience:
Burnout can be slow, until it’s not. For me, it started as an overcommitment to responsibilities. I began taking on too much, too quickly. I was trying to take months of work and progress and fit it into a few weeks. Then, I began giving up my own time. I spent less time with my family, less time on my personal goals, and less time physically resting. I thought that if I could sacrifice a lot now, the results would come faster. When responsibilities continued to pile up, it started affecting my motivation, focus, creativity, and joy. And after a few mental breakdowns, I realized I needed to step back.
What Burnout Really Is:
Burnout is not simply stress or being tired. Burnout is “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive, prolonged, and unmanaged workplace stress.” Burnout can also be caused by overcommitment, perfectionism, or an identity tied to achievement. Unfortunately, high-achieving students are especially vulnerable to burnout because we have not learned coping mechanisms to manage the stress that comes with the work we do. If you are constantly tired regardless of the amount of sleep you get, feeling detached from yourself or others, not performing as well on assignments, or thinking more negatively than usual, you are most likely in the early stages of burnout.
How to Avoid Burnout
Stop tying your worth to your productivity. Yes, you are a hard worker, but that is not all you are. Learn to hold your worth in more stable and less destructive ways.\
Learn to say no! Prioritize your set commitments and stick to them. As much as you want to do more, be more, you need to slow down and take care of yourself.
Protect your energy. If you are constantly engaging in low-energy activities and giving your energy to draining people, you will not have enough to devote to the things you actually need to do. Remember, where attention goes, energy flows.
Notice warning signs. If you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned warning signs, it is time for a reset. Address the problem now before it gets worse.
Although burnout is not enjoyable, it taught me a lesson. It taught me that I am not my achievements. It taught me that I do not have to be a machine. I can enjoy work, and I can enjoy my personal life. Your ambition does not require exhaustion, regardless of what the “hustle culture” influencers tell you. Take time to rest and invest in your long-term success.
If you enjoyed this blog post, I encourage you to read another one: “The Top 10 Habits of Highly Successful Students.” This is the perfect guide to help you get out of burnout and back to your high-achieving, high-productivity self!
Love,
Juliet & Study Strong