Have you noticed your child more exhausted and irritable lately? Do they seem less motivated and inspired to do their school work? Like people in the workforce, students can also experience burnout, and it's an issue that you shouldn't ignore. 

What Is Academic Burnout?

Before we jump into the different techniques on dealing with burnout, let's first get an overview of what it really is. Academic burnout is a negative, physical and mental reaction due to prolonged studying. This results in frustration, exhaustion, reduced motivation, and poor performance in school. It happens when a student is often dealing with hefty school work, absorbing too much information, doing too many tasks, and basically, biting more than they can chew.

However, this shouldn't be confused with the occasional feeling of frustration due to hours of studying. Instead, know that it's a chronic condition due to long-term studying and school work. 

Here are some study burnout symptoms that you should look out for:

• Feeling tired no matter how much sleep you get;
• Lack of motivation to attend classes and begin assignments;
• Lack of creativity and inspiration for projects and discussions
• Reduced confidence in academic abilities;
• Physical manifestations of stress, such as pain and tension;
• Increase in bad habits like overeating, staying up too late, and more;
• Experiencing feelings of anxiety and depression.
  

When treating academic burnout, recognition and acknowledgement of the condition are necessary steps. After that, a serious commitment to changing their current study habits should be in order, such as creating a strict schedule or getting expert tutors to assist them with harder subjects. 

When your child is experiencing academic burnout, don't feel disheartened; instead, help them get back on their feet and overcome this burnout together. Here are some ways to properly deal with study burnout. Let's take a look!

How to Deal With Burnout

1. Make Time for Social and Physical Activities

You can do this by getting in a bit of exercise within the week — thrice a week should be good. Taking a quick jog around the park or your neighbourhood should be enough to keep their blood and muscles going while taking in a bit of vitamin D and nature to reduce their stress levels. A few activities within the week will help your child feel more motivated and inspired.

2. Improve Time Management Habits

One of the biggest reasons your child is experiencing burnout might be that don't have an effective time management setup. Make sure they stay on track with school work and deadlines and avoid procrastination. Having a proper schedule and to-do list will help them with their school load and put them in a better headspace. 

Besides that, stay motivated by setting realistic goals, such as finishing a project a day before the deadline to squeeze in a movie night the next day. This will keep them motivated and look forward to a reward at the end of a school day. 

3. Encourage Them to Take a Step Back and Get Help

When you notice your child feeling a bit overwhelmed, ask them to take a step back and get grounded. Sometimes, they tend to forget work-life balance due to their workload, so it's best to remind them to take a break.  

Besides that, if you notice that they're struggling on certain subjects, tutoring services can help them tackle the subject with ease. Sometimes, all they need is a bit of help to keep them going. 

The Bottom Line: Academic Burnout Is a Serious Condition. However, Your Child Can Overcome It With Your Help

With proper adjustments to their schedule and how they deal with school work, your child will breathe easier knowing that they have several ways to get work done in a better headspace. 

So, help your child fix their school schedule, squeeze in some outdoor time, and suggest physics tutoring — they'll be able to deal with schoolwork better and improve their overall well-being. 

How Can We Help You?

If you're looking for high school tutoring in Penrith, Young Growth Academy can help you out. We are a team of passionate and experienced teachers, striving to bridge the gap in the education system and the real world. Book a trial today!