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Have you ever felt like school is too much for you at the moment? Or have you felt like you lost passion for the things that were your main interest? Maybe you’re experiencing burnout, the new epidemic of our age. In this article, we’ll delve deeper and discuss it.
What is burnout?
Burnout is a state of emotional and mental exhaustion caused by excessive stress, like school, applying to colleges, and tests. It's a gradual process that occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands or deadlines.
As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place. Burnout reduces productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful.
Signs you’re probably facing burnout
Behavioural signs:
Procrastination: Yep, it’s why you’re probably reading this. When you’re overwhelmed with to-dos, you fall into a spiral of “I’ll do it later” that “later” never comes and the reason behind this is you’re exhausted to start something new.
Addiction: eating disorders, alcohol, and drugs. People might use these to cope with stress. But the drug of our age “social media” is the new time-consuming method. You might engage in endless mindless scrolling habits to get over the exhaustion.
Projecting frustration onto others: You might find yourself snapping at younger siblings or friends over minor issues. It’s important to manage your frustration, as it can strain relationships.
Emotional Signs
Loss of motivation: you feel trapped in a cage of tasks and have stopped engaging in your hobbies. Even the hobbies that felt like the highlight of your day are now nothing entertaining, more like another task.
Sense of failure: No tasks are done, hobbies are postponed, and your goals cry in the corner. You probably started to feel like a complete failure.
The Gifted Child burnout
Were you considered the gifted kid in your community? Now, getting up and doing simple tasks is overwhelming. Well, welcome to the club. You, as a past gifted kid, have to perform well to keep up with your perfect record of achievements. Here are reasons why gifted kids suffer from burnout as adults.
High expectations: Gifted children often face high expectations from themselves, their parents, and their teachers. This can lead to a lot of pressure and stress. you don’t want to be compared to your perfect past self, so you’re driven to improve.
Perfectionism: Gifted children may be perfectionists, or were raised to be so, which can make it difficult for them to accept mistakes or setbacks. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and frustration.
Asynchronous development: Gifted children may develop at a different pace than their peers, which can lead to social and emotional challenges.
Is it burnout? Or is it depression?
When experiencing burnout, a person often feels drained of energy and struggles to complete tasks. In contrast, depression leads individuals to lose enjoyment in activities they once found pleasurable. Additionally, the negative feelings associated with burnout are typically linked to specific stressors, such as school or work, whereas a depressed person may feel these negative emotions across all areas of their life.
How to treat it?
Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
Eat healthy: Make sure to eat a healthy diet and to stay hydrated.
Exercise: Regular exercise can help to reduce stress and improve your mood.
Use the Pomodoro technique: Give yourself a given amount of time to study and then reward yourself with a break.
Set boundaries: Learn to say no to things that you don't have time for.
Delegate tasks: If possible, delegate some of your work to others.
Talk to friends and family: Talking to friends and family can help you to feel less isolated and more supported.
Burnout is a serious issue that can significantly impact physical and mental health. If you're experiencing burnout, it's important to take steps to address it before it gets worse. By making changes to your work-life balance, seeking support, and practicing self-care, you can start to feel better.
Reference List
Smith, M. and Reid, S. (2018). Burnout: Symptoms, Treatment, and Coping Strategy Tips. [online] HelpGuide.org. Available at: https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.
Verywell Mind. (n.d.). Gifted Kid Burnout Is Real—How to Spot the Signs and Overcome It As an Adult. [online] Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/gifted-kid-burnout-signs-symptoms-how-to-overcome-it-8611238.
Davidson Academy (2024). Understanding Asynchronous Development in Gifted Students. [online] Davidson Academy. Available at: https://www.davidsonacademy.unr.edu/blog/understanding-asynchronous-development-in-gifted-students/.
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