Balancing sports and school work can add a lot of stress for a student. Many students strive to be great at their sport and put extensive amounts of energy into it. At the same time, much of the student population also works a job while in high school. After a busy and exciting fall season, the dead of winter brings about some seasonal exhaustion for these very busy teens.
Coaches and teachers push students to the next level to succeed. While doing that can be very beneficial to form a student who is ready for the “real world,” it can also create a student who expects too much out of themselves and pushes themselves to a feeling of a burnout. We also put much of that pressure on ourselves, aiming for perfection.
Many upperclassmen partake in college classes. Trying to juggle advanced classes and going above and beyond in your sports isn’t an easy task. Though coaches and teachers expect students to complete all assignments with the most effort, many students hold their own high standard for their sports and school work.
In an article, “Student burnout: Addressing the Growing Epidemic,” published by The Learning Counsel, author Hunter Wesolowski defined student burnout as “the mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress,” and he stated that this burnout “has become an alarming and growing epidemic in our education system.”
“Perfectionism, overwhelming feelings, and overcommitment are pushing students to their limits and, in some cases, beyond. . . According to an American Psychological Association (APA) survey, over half of high school students are regularly labeled as stressed or burnt out,” the article stated.
Many students also work regularly. Some may do Moflex, which allows them to work hours they would typically be at school but that leads to more responsibilities students must hold.
On the contrary, it can be beneficial for students to hold so much responsibility and teach them early how to manage their time. The key is not to drop all of your commitments, but to find balance by managing your schedule to allow for some leisure time, to take care of yourself with enough sleep and a healthy diet and to find a parent or adult who can be a sympathetic ear and give advice.