Sol Garcia | THE RIDER
Daniela Garcia, an English senior, stays up until 3 or 4 a.m. to work on assignments. By 9 a.m. she has to get ready for class.
“It’s just a continuous cycle where I have to drink a coffee to wake me up and then drink coffee to keep me up,” Garcia said. “It’s just slowly been drowning me and burning me out.”
She believes her college burnout is due to remote learning while also experiencing the pandemic and personal struggles.
“The workload on top of the fact that learning has become so remote now, it doesn’t feel as genuine and authentic as it did over a year ago when we were in school,” the senior said. “Then, well, since finals are coming up, you feel the drag of it already drained you.”
Christopher Albert, direc- tor of UTRGV’s Counseling Center, said it is possible that more students experienced college burnout this last year than in previous years because of COVID-19-related stressors, such as fear of getting COVID-19, losing someone to the virus and struggling with online learning.
“Obviously, that can be challenging and can take its toll,” Albert said. “We have pandemic-related stressors out there. That leaves some people more vulnerable, and we need to pay attention to that.”
He defines burnout as an overwhelmed feeling in response to stress, although it can be different for many people.
“Usually, we’re talking about some- one who feels overwhelmed because of the amount of stress or work demands that the person has been having,” Albert said. “In a sense, it’s the demands we get in terms of doing tasks or work [that] outstrips our internal resources.”
The effects of burnout can include mental exhaustion, inability to concentrate and decreased productivity, he said.
“It could even set you up over time, if not addressed, to develop, like, a psychological disorder, like an anxiety disorder or depression,” Albert said.
He recommends students recharge from college burnout or other stress anytime of the year by prioritizing responsibilities and setting limits on expectations or demands.
“Maybe we have our own expectations that are maybe, at this point, a bit too much,” Albert added.
Students should also take the time to practice aerobics and relaxation skills or activities, like yoga, meditation and mindfulness, he said.
“[Mindfulness is] the idea of just being present in the moment, observing what’s going on with all your senses, sight, hearing, feeling and just being OK with just observing and not judging, and even observing one’s own thoughts,” Albert said.
Another piece of advice that he offers is to connect with other people and with what the individual holds sacred, such as religious practices or nature.
“It could be tied to an official religion, going to church or … getting in touch more with nature, or some type of activity that you consider sacred and, in a sense, not to be messed with. It’s something you need to revere and pay attention to,” Albert said.
One of the most important things when facing burnout is to also ensure time for resting and sleeping, he said.
“Make sure no matter how many demands you have in your life, to get rest,” Albert said. “[Make] sure you have enough sleep.”
Volunteering is another way to replenish energy, he said.
“When we do good things for others, we feel better,” Albert said. “In a sense, that replenishes our own energy when we do those types of things, ironically, even though we’re spending energy to do that. So, if you’re a student and not taking classes this summer, I strongly advise that you do some type of community or volunteer work.”
Zelma Mata, the department chair of Health and Human Performance and an associate dean in the College of Health Professions, believes students need to listen to their bodies.
“If they’re waking up very tired in the morning, well, then, they need to really rethink their daily routines,” Mata said.
To help refresh after a challenging semester, the associate dean recommends all students form a healthy routine that includes eating well and time for exercising, sleeping and relaxation or fun.
Specifically, for students taking summer courses, Mata suggests an established routine that includes time dedicated to their health, since health is tied to productivity.
“Health is connected to being productive,” she said. “It’s important for students to be healthier, be happier, and to be productive and [to know] the connection between those three.”
Students should remember to take breaks and surround themselves with supportive people, Mata said.
“Take a break to do something that is safe and fun and … have a good support system,” she said. “Social connection is very important.”
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