Burnout is a physical or mental exhaustion due to overwork or stress. This idea, when applied to the classroom, offers incredible insights into how the high school setting is shaped today.
Whether high schoolers are jamming their schedules with APs (Advanced Placement classes), loading up on extracurriculars, or prioritizing academic excellence over personal well-being, the end result is an all-time extreme of burnout in high schools nationwide.
Looking at this through the lens of District 112 brings the issue into focus at a local level. District 112 high school students’ stress levels, and in turn burnout rates, are a cause for concern.
Through polling, roughly 80% of high school sophomores and juniors at Chanhassen High reported feeling burnt out at least once a week. Many of these students take multiple AP courses, participate in at least three extracurriculars, and have jobs. Trying to navigate such a jam-packed schedule leaves little room for personal time or focus on well-being. This imbalance is the root cause of the increased levels of burnout we see in our schools.
Among the students who reported a feeling of burnout, nearly all cited the college application process as the main driving factor behind their common circumstance. The college application process has become progressively and steadily more competitive over recent years.
As a result of this, high school students feel more pressure to excel in all aspects of their academic and extracurricular life. One student, when asked about this, said, “ No matter how much I do, I feel like I should do more.”
This pressure creates a sense of urgency that pushes students to their limits.
The best ways to cope with burnout – at any age – include rest, practicing mindfulness, allowing time for personal interests, exercise, and social connection. Incorporating even a small amount of time into your daily schedule to pursue an area of interest, express creativity, or even read a chapter of a book has proven to greatly reduce stress levels. This, in turn, leads to higher levels of healthy productivity.
Parents, if your child is currently in high school, remember to check on how their stress affects their day-to-day. Conversations with your children surrounding topics such as stress management create more socially and emotionally competent adults.
Additionally, highlighting the support systems available to your teen both in and out of school can de-stigmatize seeking help. This is something crucial for development because, if we’re being honest, we can all use a little help sometimes.
Works Cited
- Ioana Alexandra Iuga, et al. “Student Burnout in Children and Adolescents: The Role of Attachment and Emotion Regulation.” Children (Basel), vol. 10, no. 9, 24 Aug. 2023, pp. 1443–1443, https://doi.org/10.3390/children10091443.
- Valcour, Monique. “Beating Burnout.” Harvard Business Review, Nov. 2016, hbr.org/2016/11/beating-burnout.
