Is your Year 11 teen suffering from burnout?
Over the past few weeks, I have begun to see many of the teens I work with start to fray around the edges.
They seem demotivated.
They speak of how exhausted they feel.
They are emotional.
Unfortunately, it’s often like this at this time of year. The pressure is on before the summer exams and quite simply, they are worn out.
The boundaries between school and home become blurred as they spend more and more time revising. They lose perspective as their world appears to revolve only around the exams.
It’s easy for parents and teachers to cajole them, to tell them that it will all be worth it, that they will get a long summer at the end.
But to be honest, it worries me. Because it is not the end. The next thing will be A-levels. Then it will be university or their boss putting pressure on them to work extra hours over and above their contracted time.
This is not a healthy way to live. Burnout in adults is becoming more and more common as our world becomes more and more fast paced and expectations become higher and higher.
We need to teach our teens to listen to their bodies.
We need to teach them to create boundaries.
We need to teach them to rest.
To perform at our best, we need a little bit of adrenaline. Following this surge of adrenaline, our nervous system is designed to reset – like an elastic band that is stretched but then pings back to its original shape. Burnout occurs when we do not give our bodies the opportunity to reset and so remain permanently on high alert, which can lead to chronic health problems.
So, what signs of burnout should you look out for in your teen?
Physical exhaustion
Your teen might appear tired the whole time. It would seem that the simple solution would be to get more sleep, but if your teen is suffering from revision burnout, they might be both tired and wired. This means that even though they are tired, they might not be able to switch off, meaning that they find it hard to sleep or rest. Therefore, they may stay up even later and spend even more time on screens, leading them to become even more wired and even more tired.
Lack of motivation
They might appear lethargic or be lacking in energy to do anything (even the things that usually bring them joy). Often, this can lead to them then berating themselves because they feel that they are at fault – that they are lazy, demotivated or lack willpower.
Emotional exhaustion
It is likely that small things bother them. You ask them something simple and they explode. They might start to become cynical, seeing only the worst in other people or struggling to see any positives in the future.
Disconnection
They may withdraw from other people, spending more and more time alone at a time when they most need the support of others.
Lack of creativity
They might not be able to think of new ideas or solve problems in the way that they usually can.
Procrastination
Your teen has a revision plan and knows what to do but is putting off taking action.
Lack of self-care
They are no longer exercising and are eating more junk food. In some cases, they might stop showering, brushing their hair or brushing their teeth.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your teen, the great news is that a few simple tweaks can turn it around. And teaching them how to recognise these symptoms and make the necessary changes themselves is a priceless gift for them to take into adulthood.
Look out for next week’s blog where I will be giving tips on helping your teen to avoid burnout.
Alternatively, if your teen would like some coaching to help them create balance between study and work, take a look at my coaching services.
