With midterms on their way, many Truckee High School students are scrambling to get their grades up. The sad part about this is that half the time they’re too busy outside of school to complete any sort of extra credit, missing assignments, or anything else that could help them. 

This isn’t just Truckee High either. Students all over the world are suffering from this burnout.. But what exactly is burnout, and why is it such a problem right now?

“Burnout is not just an adult phenomenon. It’s real, it’s happening, and it’s affecting children in schools nationwide,” according to an article from  The Learning Counsel. There’s no doubt about it–burnout is spreading like a plague. And it’s not always just academic. It can be caused by many things like relationships, lack of support and jobs. “Burnout syndrome (hereinafter termed burnout) is a state of emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue and cognitive weariness caused by long-term uncontrolled and unresolved work stressors 1–5,” says The National Library Of Medicine.

It’s not going  away, this is the sad reality we live in. But why is it so much more prominent now? Why does something that’s existed since the beginning of time seem to be skyrocketing all of a sudden?

First of all, “grind culture” is becoming increasingly popular among the youth. The meaning is simple: giving your best work possible without any stopping in between. No breaks, no leeway and no time to unwind. “The researchers surveyed 1,545 U.S. teens in the fall of 2023, asking about six areas in their lives that are potential sources of negative pressure, such as academics and social relationships,” says a study from Harvard Magazine. Unfortunately, this stress is so normalized in the modern world, which is twisted and disappointing. We should always be doing our best. That should be a given. However, if it’s having a negative effect on your life, then ask yourself this: Is it really worth it?

There can also be a lot of pressure from colleges to get good grades, especially top colleges, which are usually the ones that are harder to get into and the ones students strive for. Most have GPA requirements that challenge students to complete classes with a grade of C or higher. To make matters worse, some Ivy League schools require even better grades than that. “Like Lowell student Shea Fairchild, whole communities come to believe that only a degree from Harvard or Stanford guarantees access to success—and you have to be the best of the best to get in,” says an article from PBS. This is more effective for some people than others. For a lot of people, the type of college they get into doesn’t matter much. For others, Ivy League Colleges are their dream. And more often than not, that means choosing between your goals and your mental health. And that’s not a choice that anyone, let alone young and developing brains should ever have to make.

Burnout shouldn’t be considered okay. Working yourself too hard can be just as bad as not working hard enough. For many teens, balancing all that stress with one’s personal life can be difficult, which can contribute to the stress never fully going away.  However, there are some methods you can use to combat burnout.

One thing that helps is taking a walk and spending time in nature. You could also talk to someone, read a book or spend time with pets. Also, journaling has been proven to be a great coping mechanism for stress as well.

Burnout shouldn’t be normalized. People shouldn’t feel like they have to emotionally drain themself in order to accomplish their goals. Best wishes on your midterms, and remember: Don’t be too hard on yourself.