As midterms pass and finals approach, many GCSU students are feeling the weight of papers, exams, readings and assignments piling up, leaving some in the ditches of academic burnout. For students, these encounters with burnout can be overwhelming and lead to irritability and depression.
“Burnout is a state of exhaustion, where you get caught up in the demands of various tasks and become depleted to the point where you no longer want to do them,” said Dr. Steve Wilson, director of Counseling Services at GCSU.
Wilson said that for students experiencing academic burnout, tasks may take longer than before and feel more challenging, accompanied by symptoms such as irritability, loss of interest, lack of motivation and exhaustion.
“Oftentimes when you’re constantly being challenged, the challenge is no longer as stimulating, and it doesn’t give you the sense of accomplishment that you’re looking for or the sense of pride that you once had,” explained Shea Pagett, a senior psychology major. “And if you fail on one of the tasks, then it is a major blow to your ego.”
According to Wilson, academic burnout can stem from a variety of factors, including time management, unrealistic expectations or standards and a lack of balance between different areas of life. Spending too much time on academics, he said, can cause students to neglect other important aspects, such as sleep, self-care and community engagement.
“There needs to be a balance of health, social and physical activities, making time for rest, exercise and relationships,” Wilson said.
For students struggling with burnout, Wilson encouraged reevaluating their time and activities with a renewed mindset on what’s valuable to them now and for their future.
“Make space for other things, give attention to other needs and get involved with things that give you a purpose,” Wilson said. “Reframe something that’s tedious into a reminder of why it’s important.”
Pagett agreed, emphasizing the importance of taking a step back to rest and reaffirm self-worth beyond academics.
“Take breaks and remember that you are not your grades,” Pagett said. “It’s okay to take breaks and everyone has it at their own pace, and you don’t always need to be at the front.”
As part of a course project, Pagett partnered with Bobcats First to combat campus-wide stress through the creation of the Destress Express, a mental health cart that encourages students to relax with fidget toys, coloring pages and other crafts to take their minds off academics for a little while.
“My initiative that I’ve been working with is something that helps with academic burnout and just taking breaks between those classes and understanding that sometimes you do need a break,” Pagett said.
For some students, being intentional in creating a calm environment to relax and reset is key to combatting academic burnout.
“I always make sure that my space when I go home is very clean and very peaceful,” said Molly Goff, a junior mass communications and library science major. “I always pray over my space, and when I’m not praying over my space, I listen to white noise or beach sounds.”
Wilson noted that there is a wide range of resources available to students on campus, including services at the Counseling Center and exercise programs at the Wellness and Recreation Center. There is also a Serenity Den in the Student Center for students to decompress and take time for self-care.
Beyond official university resources, Wilson also mentioned using the CORQ app to find student-led organizations for mental health, faith-based groups and other clubs that can help students find purpose and connection.
As the university continues to commit to mental health advocacy, Goff said some adjustments to classroom procedures and policies could better support students experiencing burnout.
“I believe that we should have less strict attendance policies,” Goff said. “I also wish that we could extend office hours a little bit more and maybe even have some more virtual office hours to accommodate people’s busy schedules, as well as making sure the assignments that are being introduced are very formative to the lessons and not just busy work.”
The GCSU Counseling Center offers free, confidential counseling and psychiatric services, as well as peer support groups and other self-help resources through its website. To learn more, visit https://www.gcsu.edu/counseling. The Destress Express will also be available in the Den on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.