Battle against burnout

Students struggle to stay motivated as the semester progresses

As the middle of the semester approaches, burnout among UTRGV students can start to emerge. While university resources are available, some students rely on personal strategies and community support to push through the exhaustion.

Rizza Bermio-Gonzalez, a psychological science lecturer at UTRGV, explained that burnout differs from temporary stress and is often the result of prolonged academic and personal pressure.

“Stress happens in response to a test or a tough assignment, but burnout builds up over time,” Bermio-Gonzalez said. “It’s that persistent exhaustion where even sleep doesn’t help. Students might start skipping assignments, feel disconnected from their goals or even experience physical symptoms like muscle tension, headaches or frequent colds.”

Isaac Rodriguez, a mechanical engineering freshman, shared that he starts feeling burnout around the one-third mark of the semester.

“I just stop doing the work I’m supposed to do,” Rodriguez said. “Instead of doing homework, I’d spend time with family, friends or play video games. I wasn’t using my time wisely.”

Marketing sophomore River Mara noted that burnout often peaks before major academic breaks, such as Thanksgiving or spring break.

“It’s always before the big breaks,” Mara said. “That’s when I feel the burnout coming, and I try to prepare mentally to push through the semester.”

She said she balances a full course load, a job and leadership roles in two student organizations, said it can feel overwhelming.

“A lot of people I know are working full time while being full-time students,” Mara said. “Burnout is bound to happen.”

The symptoms of burnout vary from student to student. Rodriguez described losing motivation and procrastinating. 

“My signs were losing motivation … and my procrastination overall,” he said.

Mara experiences emotional exhaustion and withdrawal.

“I know I’m burned out when I get really lazy and don’t want to go anywhere,” she said. “It’s not like a sudden crash, but more of a slow decline where I just stop wanting to do anything.”

Bermio-Gonzalez emphasized that poor time management and procrastination are two of the biggest contributors to burnout.

“A lot of students wait until the last minute to start assignments, which leads to all-nighters, poor sleep and a cycle of stress that makes everything worse,” the professor said. “Breaking assignments into smaller, manageable tasks and setting realistic deadlines can help prevent that spiral.”

Self-care, Bermio-Gonzalez added, is just as important as academic responsibility.

“Students often put school ahead of their well-being, but prioritizing sleep, nutrition and physical activity can make a huge difference,” she said. “Even small changes, like setting aside time to relax or incorporating movement into your day can help manage stress before it turns into burnout.”

Despite the challenges, students are finding ways to cope. Rodriguez has started doing homework around his family to stay engaged.

“Being with them while studying helps take the pressure off,” he said.

Mara emphasized the importance of a support system and taking breaks.

“I took a break from my club president duties for a while to focus on school,” she said. “Having a community that understands you need time off makes a huge difference.”

Recognizing the impact burnout can have, Mara has learned to set boundaries and prioritize her well-being.

“Your mental health is worth way more than what you’re doing right now,” she said.