Combatting Burnout in Schools: Strategies for Students and Staff

Prioritizing Wellness within a School Community

Making time for self-care and wellbeing can seem nearly impossible at this point in the school year. For all involved, the stakes of the tests, assignments, college applications, letters of recommendation, and projects to close out the semester feel incredibly high and the deadlines are often unmovable. Because of this, it is more important than ever for counselors to be leaders within the school community to advocate for students and staff to prioritize their emotional wellbeing and care. Counselors can work with students and colleagues to create systems and routines that proactively foster mental health and wellbeing. And, as needs arise, they can offer tips and strategies to help reinvigorate energy into teaching, learning, and belonging within the school community.

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As the first semester nears an end, many students, educators, administrators, and support staff are feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Students have been working tirelessly to complete projects and prepare for semester exams, oftentimes staying up late to finish multiple assignments or prepare for several tests scheduled within the same week. They are worried about end-of-semester tests that will heavily impact their GPAs.

Educators and all who work with students have been putting in long hours, grading papers and projects, preparing midterm tests, and checking in on students who seem to be off track–often while working to manage the more challenging behaviors that accompany these intense weeks. For nearly everyone, the proportion of how time is spent has fallen out of balance–with significantly more energy put towards completing work than on the types of activities that allow for connection, rest, or recharging. And this stress permeates nearly every interaction. Tasks take longer to complete, distractions run rampant, students and educators are quick to respond negatively, and assumptions of worst case scenarios fill minds–degrading the overall school climate and increasing feelings of stress.

During this time of year, counselors can help to teach and model productive coping mechanisms and healthy behaviors. They can work with administrators to create opportunities for students and staff to pause, even for just a few moments, and prioritize mental health and wellbeing. Encourage students and staff to:

Take Care of Basic Needs: Ensuring that the body has what it needs to be able to focus and be productive is critical. Eating well, exercising, and getting regular and sufficient sleep helps everyone to stay healthy and prevent feelings of burnout. While it can be challenging when there is so much to get done to make time for sleep and exercise, it is essential to prioritize physical wellbeing in order to be emotionally and mentally well.
Focus on Connections and Friendships: In times of stress, a focus on connecting with friends and others who are important to us can be particularly meaningful. Educators can work to remember their why, create opportunities for students to work with peers, and lean on colleagues for support and camaraderie. Students can form study groups with classmates and create opportunities to spend time socially with friends. Connecting with others can help to center what’s important during this busy time.
Take Breaks: Pausing, proactively and with intention, can help to reduce feelings of stress. The seemingly small acts of taking a walk, calling a friend, or making a snack can be highly impactful to overall productivity. Or, if possible, take a few moments to do a hobby you love, play a sport, or just get outside. These activities can help refresh and rejuvenate bodies and minds. Though it can seem counterintuitive, adding in small breaks can actually increase both focus and efficiency to get work completed.
Stay Organized: Burnout can lead to distractions, projects getting started but never finished, and supplies and materials scattered about. This chaos often increases feelings of stress. Taking time to get organized, whether by cleaning up a physical space or making a to-do list, is well worth the time and energy.
Break Larger Projects into Smaller Tasks: While the end goals and deadlines are often non-negotiable, the process-related goals can be. Sometimes the tasks at hand seem so hard to tackle, it leads to feelings of paralysis or not knowing where to begin. Breaking larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks and celebrating progress along the way can help to build and sustain momentum.
Consider Your Environment: Being aware of how different environments impact productivity is a key step in battling burnout. For some, quiet solitude is the best environment to get work done. For others, a more lively, social experience keeps energy high. Knowing what works best, and changing the environment as needed, can help to maintain focus on a task.