Burnout in College and How to Combat It
Kale Mize | November 24, 2021
Quinn Bonney
Current Echo editor, Sierra Davis, after a long day’s work.
Many students are finding themselves experiencing burnout this time of year, especially as they return from three semesters of online courses because of the ongoing pandemic. For freshmen and sophomores, this year is the first year of completely in-person learning for them at Warren Wilson College (WWC). Following 18 months of isolation, it can be difficult to jump straight into many hours a day of in-person classes and, at Warren Wilson, the work program, which can lead to overwhelming stress, loss of motivation and burnout.
“I feel like being burnt out on campus is very common, if not expected, especially with the work program,” sophomore Abbie Ervin said. “I wish that there was a way to remedy it. It feels like all we can do is keep on pushing until the end of the semester or the weekend.”
Burnout is defined as “physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.” An Ohio State University study showed that burnout led to a 30% increase in “anxiety, depression and unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance use, lack of physical activity and social isolation over the eight-month period” from August 2020 to April 2021.
A lot of students find themselves lost with how to relieve the stress without getting behind.
“I can appreciate the lenient professors who give us time to chill or take mental health days, but at the same time I don’t know what else students can do to take care of ourselves,” Ervin said.
Students feeling lost can get help at the Health Center from counselors provided by the school.
“The sense of urgency and the frustration of feeling rushed is heightened when you have an overactive sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system,” said Rachel Keefe, a counselor at Warren Wilson College. “Start from a place of self-compassion, take or schedule a break to take care of yourself, find creative outlets, practice mindfulness such as mindful walking, breathing, yoga, meditation.”
At Warren Wilson, students are offered 8-10 counseling sessions per year with the counseling center focusing on crisis intervention, consultation and off-campus referral. For more information, reach out to one of the five counselors we have on campus, or follow this link to make an appointment.
Additional resources: Self care starter kit and Willa the Owl comic on self care
