At the College, where packed schedules, challenging academics, extracurricular leadership roles, and social commitments often define student life, burnout has become an increasingly familiar, if not openly discussed, experience. For many students, exhaustion is no longer an occasional setback, but a constant in the background, shaping how they study, socialize, and define their own success.
Burnout is typically described as a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by a long period of stress. On campus, it often shows up less as a breaking point and more as a slow decrease in motivation. Students describe difficulty concentrating, detachment from coursework they once found exciting, and a feeling that rest is never fully enough.
The structure of college life can intensify this pressure. Many students balance full course loads with athletic commitments, club leadership roles, jobs, and internships, all of which are framed as necessary for competitiveness after graduation. The result is a culture where being busy is often equated with being successful, and slowing down can feel like falling behind.
For sophomore Mara Reba `28, burnout shows up in a familiar cycle of stress and disengagement: “[It feels like] being stressed out but also unmotivated to do any of my assignments,” she said.
That pattern can make burnout difficult to recognize. Rather than stopping altogether, students often push through exhaustion, normalizing it as part of “college life.” Some describe short bursts of productivity followed by crashes, while others admit to losing interest in activities they once prioritized.
Mental health professionals note that this pattern is increasingly common nationwide among college students, especially at highly selective institutions. Chronic stress can disrupt sleep, reduce cognitive performance, and contribute to anxiety and depressive symptoms. If not addressed, burnout can also affect academic performance and overall well-being.
Despite growing awareness of mental health, many students still feel pressure to appear composed. Admitting to burnout can feel like admitting failure in a culture that rewards constant achievement. As a result, students often confide in close friends rather than true support systems or wait until the stress becomes unmanageable before seeking help.
Reba describes the end-of-semester period as especially intense. “The weeks leading up to reading week are when I feel burnt out the most because I feel like I’ll have a lot of work to do but also have no sense of urgency to complete my assignments [or] study,” she said.
Reba also noted the social pressure that comes with academic culture on campus. “People seem to always talk about ‘locking in,’ and it can sometimes make me feel guilty for not always wanting to do my work,” she said.
Faculty and administrators have emphasized wellness initiatives in recent years, but students say the pace of academic and extracurricular life still feels intense. Even well-intentioned advice to “take breaks” can feel unrealistic when deadlines continue to stack up.
Social media can also reinforce the cycle. Constant exposure to peers’ internships, awards, and leadership roles can make it feel like everyone else is gliding by, even when many are privately struggling. That comparison can deepen feelings of inadequacy and make it harder to step back without feeling guilt.
Still, some students are finding small ways to push back against burnout culture. A few set boundaries around study time, prioritize sleep, or step back from extracurricular roles. Others try to reframe productivity entirely, focusing less on constant output and more on sustainability.
Reba emphasized physical movement as one of her main coping strategies. “Working out, or just moving my body in general,” she said, noting that even small amounts of activity can help reset her mindset during periods of exhaustion.
Even so, burnout remains a persistent part of campus life, less a personal failing than a reflection of broader pressures existing in academic environments. Addressing it may require not only individual coping strategies but a cultural shift in how success and balance are defined.
For now, many students continue to navigate that tension daily: striving to do more, while quietly wondering when it will ever feel like enough.
~ Mia Dinunzio `28
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