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We all have days when we feel tired, stressed or unmotivated. Maybe you’ve had a long week of classes, stayed up late finishing an assignment or simply haven’t had enough time to yourself. But what happens when that feeling doesn’t go away?
As the semester gets busier, ongoing academic pressure can leave you feeling physically and emotionally drained. For some students, prolonged stress can develop into burnout, leaving you feeling exhausted, disconnected and like you’re running on empty.
Burnout doesn’t usually happen overnight. Learning to recognise the signs early can help you check in with yourself and work out when you might need to slow down or ask for support.
So, what is burnout?
Burnout is commonly associated with prolonged or chronic stress. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. While this definition applies specifically to work, researchers also use the concept of academic burnout to describe the effects of prolonged study-related stress on students.
Research shows that university students can experience high levels of exhaustion and disengagement related to their studies, particularly when ongoing demands aren’t balanced with enough recovery and support.
For students, burnout might look like more than simply being tired after a busy week. You may start noticing changes in your energy, motivation, emotions, physical wellbeing or ability to keep up with everyday responsibilities.
Are you burnt out or just tired?
Being tired after a busy week is normal. The difference is often how long the feeling lasts and how much it starts affecting your everyday life.
Here are some signs to look out for.
Emotional and mental signs
You might:
- Feel exhausted even after getting some rest.
- Feel overwhelmed by tasks that normally feel manageable.
- Lose motivation or enthusiasm for your studies.
- Find it harder to concentrate or make decisions.
- Feel irritable, frustrated or more emotionally sensitive than usual.
- Feel detached or disconnected from your studies.
- Start feeling like you’re not making progress, no matter how much you do.
Physical signs
Burnout can affect your body too. You might notice:
- Changes to your sleep.
- Persistent tiredness or low energy.
- Headaches or muscle tension.
- Changes in appetite.
- Feeling run down or physically unwell.
These symptoms can have many different causes, so experiencing one of them doesn’t necessarily mean you’re experiencing burnout. It’s more useful to look at patterns and changes over time.
Changes in your study habits
You might notice that you’re:
- Procrastinating more than usual.
- Avoiding assignments or tasks because they feel overwhelming.
- Finding it difficult to focus on your studies.
- Taking much longer to complete things.
- Missing classes or falling behind.
- Feeling like even small academic tasks require a huge amount of effort.
Changes in your everyday life
Burnout doesn’t necessarily stay in the classroom.
You might start:
- Withdrawing from friends or activities you normally enjoy.
- Cancelling plans because you feel too tired or overwhelmed.
- Spending less time doing things that help you feel like yourself.
- Relying more heavily on caffeine or other quick fixes to get through the day.
- Feeling like there’s no time for anything outside of study.
It’s not about ticking every box
You don’t need to experience every sign on this list to recognise that something isn’t feeling right. Maybe ask yourself: “Have I noticed a change in how I’ve been feeling, thinking or behaving lately?”
You know yourself better than anyone. If you’ve noticed that you’re constantly exhausted, losing interest in things you normally enjoy or struggling to keep up with your usual responsibilities, it may be time to pause and check in with yourself.
And remember: feeling stressed doesn’t automatically mean you’re burnt out. Stress is a normal response to challenging situations. It becomes more concerning when it is prolonged, feels difficult to manage and starts interfering with your wellbeing or everyday life.
What can you do if you recognise the signs?
You don’t have to wait until you’re completely overwhelmed to reach out. Start by taking a moment to consider what might be contributing to how you’re feeling. Could you use more rest? Are you taking on too much? Have you been putting off asking for help? Are you making enough time for things outside of study?
Small changes can help, but you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Talk to someone you trust, whether that’s a friend, family member, lecturer or someone from Curtin’s wellbeing services. If you’re concerned about your wellbeing or the way you’re feeling is affecting your everyday life, consider reaching out to a health professional for support.
Coming up next: Why does burnout happen at uni?
Recognising the signs is the first step. In Part 2 of our Beating Burnout series, we’ll look at some of the pressures and patterns that can contribute to burnout – from heavy workloads and competing responsibilities to perfectionism and not giving yourself enough time to recover.
Want to learn more about burnout? Watch this short video to learn more about burnout, what it can look like and how it can affect your wellbeing.
Need support now?
If you or someone you know are experiencing burnout and need support, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our Wellbeing Advisors, or get in touch with our Psychology and Counselling Service.
Or you can check in with yourself using the Wellbeing tool in OASIS to find personalised resources based on how you’re feeling and what you need.
This is part one of our three-part article series on beating burnout. You can read part two and three at the links below.
