Burnout in High School Students

By Natalia Rossier '28

According to Harvard Graduate School of Education, more than a quarter of High School teens surveyed reported struggling with Burnout. This report allows the mental health field to get a better understanding of how many students are experiencing Burnout; however, it does not account for the number of students who report feeling stress related to

their studies and are unaware of this diagnosis. Burnout can manifest in one's life in so many different ways, such as feeling emotionally drained or depleted, experiencing symptoms of depression or heightened anxiety, and even feeling helpless and doubting one's accomplishments. Even though Burnout harms High School students' lives, there are ways we, as a society, can combat Burnout and foster more positive learning environments. Some ways are to spread more knowledge and awareness about the topic and to provide simple solutions that can actually help students. This article will guide you through the leading causes of Burnout in high school students; how to prevent and cope with them; and share a personal experience of mine overcoming Burnout.

Causes of Burnout among High School Students:

Burnout in high school students is mainly caused by certain expectations and standards students set for themselves, as well as dissatisfaction with their school environment. Teens face extreme pressures to succeed in life and to have everything figured out at such a young age. 56% of American teens feel pressure to have their future life path figured out. This fact is alarming, yet so normalized. Because students feel they need to know their life plan, they set unrealistic standards for themselves and feel the need to be exceptional in their achievements. Most of the time, students are unable to meet these standards and perform as well as they want, which leaves them feeling depleted, depressed, and doubting their accomplishments. Standards are imposed on teens mainly by social

media and parents. However, sometimes the issue lies within the academic setting itself. Another common cause of Burnout among high school students is dissatisfaction with their school environment. A survey conducted among 364 secondary school students in Turkey showed a negative relationship between quality of school life (QSL) and Burnout: higher QSL was associated with lower levels of Burnout (Gündogan & Özgen, 2020). Having a negative impression of a school environment can demotivate students from academically succeeding because they have already decided they do not like being at their school. Not liking being at school can lead students to take education less seriously, see no point in learning, and miss classes. Feeling burnt out, regardless of the cause, can be addressed and prevented in various ways.

How to Prevent & Cope with Burnout as a High School Student:

High school students can address Burnout by developing time management skills, practicing mindfulness and relaxation, and seeking support. Time management skills ensure that students do not overwhelm themselves with constant work that requires hard thinking and emotional availability. A balanced life, with time spent with family and friends, is crucial for students to feel happy and not isolated. Mindfulness and relaxation give students time to reflect on their lives and restore their creativity. Self-reflection is necessary to find direction in life, and is the opposite of what those students who are so concerned with their future leave time for. Finally, seeking support ensures that students feel heard and can express their feelings outwardly. Feeling listened to and expressing our feelings allows us to receive feedback from others to adjust our lifestyles accordingly.

Despite all of these coping mechanisms and ways to prevent Burnout, overcoming Burnout is much easier said than done. Here is my story overcoming burnout: Overcoming Burnout requires self-compassion and empathy. At the beginning of last year, as a ninth grader, I was starting to think about how I wanted my high school years to look. Because of my lack of experience as a high schooler, maintaining good grades, balancing extracurriculars and sports, and having time for myself would be easy. However, in this thought I was very wrong. Everything started well; I was getting excellent grades and maintaining some extracurriculars, including a sport. Looking back, my schedule at

the time still allowed me to have free time, spend time with family and friends, and relax when needed. I started to feel overwhelmed and pressured to do more, and by that, I mean I thought it necessary to fill every part of my week with some work. I would pack my schedule with any tasks I thought were productive. I was able to manage all of this until mid-way through my first year, when I didn't feel motivated to do anything. Fortunately for me, it was around this time that I had spring break and went on vacation. After reflecting on what I needed most, I realized it was best for me to start doing more self-care, meditate, journal, spend time with family, and seek therapy.

Burnout among high school students is a significant issue caused by many factors.

Fortunately, there are numerous ways we can combat and cope with Burnout. Take my story as an example: sometimes, what we need most is more free time in our lives. Even though there is so much information available about Burnout, some people remain unaware of its increasing prevalence among high school students. The number one thing you can do to prevent Burnout among you and your peers is to spread more awareness today.

Photo Courtesy of stjohns.edu

Sources: mdpi.com, psychologytoday.com/us, and gse.harvard.edu

Edited by Kavya Chacko '26, Catherine Polatidis '26, & Ms. Brilliant

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