With the transition to campus, staff and students have been experiencing burnout over the course of the semester as schedules and workloads have grown.
“I feel like there’s definitely times where I’m stressed out,” said Olukpe Viakinnou (’25). “I have a lot of work I need to get done and have, like, a lot of extracurricular activities that I have to manage as well.”
After a year of remote learning, staff and students are having to readjust to life on campus. Because of this, everyone is lacking a sense of normalcy.
“Burnout is feeling emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted,” said Elyse Peredna, Assistant Director of Counseling Services. It is a product of an overabundance of stress that seems impossible to manage.
People experiencing this will feel unmotivated, be prone to procrastination, and will lose interest in the activities they enjoy. Burnout is created by an overwhelming amount of stress.
“It’s also this state of just not being invested and not feeling purpose in what we’re doing,” Peredna said.
After returning to in-person classes, students may be feeling overwhelmed with social pressure. “Over the last year and a half they were behind a screen…There weren’t as many in-person events and meetings,” said Peredna. “Now that they’re back on campus, they’re excited for those things but also they’re just feeling really exhausted by a lot of that, too, so it’s okay to take time for yourself.”
Practicing self-care can help to prevent the effects of burnout. This can include getting exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep.
Having a daily routine and setting work and social boundaries can give a sense of control. Additionally, taking the time to unplug and participate in activities outside of school and work can be beneficial for a person’s health.
Students can seek support from their advisor, the Learning Center, or can contact the Wellness Center at 603-645-9679 or wellness@snhu.edu.
