Burnout is when you feel really tired and overwhelmed from too much stress, and it can make you less interested in things you used to enjoy. It’s important to take care of yourself and think about how you’re feeling and what’s on your plate. By recognizing your struggles and taking some time to recharge, you can bounce back and feel better.

Burn Out & Self-Care

• Check-in with how you are feeling today. Check out the sign to look for at the top of the page or read through this flier. If any of those statements feel familiar, continue. If not, skip to the Persistent or Stubborn section. 
• Get out your journal or a sheet of paper. Set a five minute timer and without stopping, respond to the prompt: Why do I feel so burned out? 
• Read back through what you wrote and at the bottom, write down any overarching reasons for your feelings. 
• Choose one of the activities below based on what you think you need and have access to.
  • Prioritization: List your current commitments and rank them by importance. Can any of the lower ranked commitments be delegated to someone else? Or even dropped? Talk with your guardian about any that can be dropped and see what solutions you can brainstorm together. 
  • Self-care: Engage in activities that relax and energize you, like exercise, hobbies, or spending time with friends. Choose an activity from this list that you can do right now. 
  • Therapy: Share how you’re feeling with a trusted friend, family member, or counselor to get support and perspective.

Persistent or Stubborn?

• Check out case studies of students who continue despite clear signs that stopping would be more beneficial. 

Put It Into Practice

• Take a look back at your SMART goal from “path”. If you have not achieved your goal yet, answer the following questions and post on the path. 
  • How has your personal evolution shifted how you feel towards your goal? Does it still align with your values and interests?
  • What are the struggles that you have faced in your efforts to achieve this goal? Can you overcome these challenges with support, delegation, problem-solving, or flexible thinking, or is it time to make a change? 
• If you have achieved your goal, set a new SMART goal, then answer the questions and post it all on the path. 
  • Looking at your old and new goal, how has your personal evolution shifted your goals? 
  • What role have your values and interests played in shaping your new goal? 
  • What are the struggles you might face in your efforts to achieve this goal? Can you overcome these challenges with support, delegation, problem-solving, or flexible thinking, or should you already set a new one?