As the first semester comes to a close, stress and chaos is on the rise. Cold and snowy days, assignments piling up and due dates speeding forth. A combination like this, most likely puts any high school student in a mental frenzy. So here’s some advice for any teen struggling with mid-year burnout:
The best thing to start off with is figuring out exactly what it is that you need during these stressful times. It could be tutoring, self-care, finding a hobby, getting more sleep, scheduling your days more and many other things. But the foundation starts from figuring out what is harping on your mind. Next, you want to seek whatever necessary assistance.
If you’re struggling on a specific chapter in your math class, your best option is to go to math tutoring and if you need to focus on self-care more, you should probably get your hair done or spend a day by yourself doing what you love. The last thing that will boost your mood and mental up during this time is accepting that you are not perfect, there can be times where you don’t perform your best, and learning what about your everyday actions could be affecting your work ethic or mental health.
But, as we all know, there is no greater advice than professional advice. Brandi Mathis, a guidance counselor at Homewood Flossmoor High School reflects on what she notices in students, “School refusal, low grades, lack of energy, and no motivation are so common in students. It’s an overwhelming amount of disconnection within the students.” She also debunks a common misconception about mid-year burnout, “I wouldn’t say burnout is hitting a specific grade, even though most people tend to believe it’s mostly seniors. I’ve seen it in all four grade levels at the school, but for all different reasons.”
She states, “Freshman burnout is usually from them experiencing their first semester in high school which has a higher workload and requires more effort than middle school. Sophomore burnout is typically coming from students being placed in more difficult courses now that the school has seen what they’re academically capable of and now they could be struggling with the challenge. Junior burnout is usually from students preparing for ACT or SAT and having to buckle down on their decisions for their post-secondary life. Lastly, I believe that senior burnout is coming from the stress of applying to colleges or making the official efforts to their post-secondary choice and also from the anxiety of knowing that 1st semester grades of senior year are looked at by colleges and universities.”
She advises students, “Accept that you are burnt out. It’s okay to be as long as you are working towards overcoming it. The biggest impact on how you feel mentally, is what you do physically. So eat whole and fresh foods, get more sleep, and stay physically active but not to the point where you’re exhausted.”
The Homewood Flossmoor Voyager Staff wishes all students a great finish off to the first semester and a wonderful holiday break!
