Life can feel really overwhelming sometimes. It seems like there’s always a test to study for, an assignment to complete, and commitments to fulfill. We often feel overwhelmed when we have too many responsibilities and not enough time to manage them all.
Our brain can only handle so much at once. Between never-ending to-do lists, decision-making, managing emotions, and remembering several responsibilities, it can feel like too much to process. These feelings can worsen when we’re stressed, not taking time for ourselves, or getting poor sleep. When stress continues for an extended period without enough time to rest or recover, burnout can occur.
Burnout is the state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that occurs when we are under prolonged stress, without enough time to recover. It can leave us feeling unmotivated, drained, irritable, and exhausted.
Why does burnout happen in the first place? And what can we do about it?
One reason we burn out is that we have too many things to do at once. School gets more challenging, extracurriculars become demanding, and work gets overwhelming. When all of these things compete for our attention, even a small task can start to feel unmanageable and impossible.
Putting too much pressure on ourselves can also lead to burnout. Feeling like you need to achieve all your goals overnight, get perfect grades, stay active, socialize every weekend, and still enjoy being a teenager can add a lot of pressure to an already stressful time. These expectations can become exhausting and cause burnout much sooner.
Not giving ourselves enough time to recover is also a big factor in causing burnout. When you are giving 110% during a busy week, it is important to prioritize giving some of that time back to yourself. Self-care can look different for everyone, but it’s so important to find what helps you relax. Here are 3 things you can try to stop feeling overwhelmed:
- Break everything into smaller steps. When you look at the full picture, it is easy to get stressed out. Taking it day by day, making to-do lists of what actually needs to be done, and planning your week can seriously help you relax and get a clearer idea of what’s ahead and what you need to focus on.
- Choose your priorities. Not everything needs to be completed immediately. I often stress because I look at everything that needs to be done in the week ahead, but in reality, you don’t have to do it all at once. Realizing this and planning accordingly can make a big difference.
- Take care of your basic needs. Sleep is non-negotiable. It can be tempting to stay up late finishing assignments, studying, or even scrolling through your phone, but sleep is so important for growing bodies and minds. Losing sleep isn’t healthy, and it is always worth committing to your sleep schedule; you will have a much more productive day the next day if you go to bed.
Although these tips may seem obvious, they are easy to forget when our minds are in flight or flight mode and things become overwhelming. If you are dealing with overwhelm or burnout, know that you are not alone. Many people experience this throughout their lives, so remember: it is okay to take a break. Mental health always comes first, and if you feel like you need a day off, that might be the best burnout medicine there is.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post and found it helpful. Don’t forget to follow The Digital Wellness Studio on Instagram, leave a like and join our newsletter! Have a fantastic Sunday!
