4 Tips for Reducing Student Burnout
School can be a challenging time for students, especially as they enter high school and demands increase. They have more classes, courses are harder, and they’re trying to prepare for college or the workforce. If left unmanaged, this can lead to burnout where students begin to lose interest and motivation in what they’re doing because they feel so overwhelmed and stressed out. They may feel as though they can’t keep up and be as successful as they want to be.
That is where organization, expectations, and self-care come into play:
1. Prioritize Your Time.
Sit down with your child and look at their schedule. If their time spent out of school is packed with extracurriculars, it may be time to cut back and choose just one or two. Make a visual chart that details when they have school, sports/dance/music/arts, family time, and homework/study time.
Encourage them to use their planner and start scheduling out projects or studying for exams in advance. If they work a little bit each day, it becomes less overwhelming and they feel more prepared when the due date or test day arrives. Instead of cramming everything at the last minute, they’re reviewing just those areas they find most challenging.
2. Take Breaks.
Spending four hours straight doing nothing but studying, writing, or research, is not effective. The brain can only process so much information at once. Make sure your child is focusing and working hard but also giving themselves a chance to relax and re-energize. Every 30–45 minutes or so, they should take a 5–10-minute break, whether that is to get a snack, stretch, listen to music, or go for a walk. A change of scenery can be good and allow them to refocus on their work once they sit back down.
3. Set Realistic Expectations.
Expecting perfection on everything is not realistic. Let your child know that if they don’t get 100 percent on every test, assignment, and project, that is okay. While you want them to put forth the effort and try their best, you don’t want to exert too much pressure where they feel as though they can’t measure up or that what they do isn’t good enough. Help them set realistic goals for themselves and learn how to cope with challenges or disappointments with a positive attitude.
4. Ask for Help.
No one is great at every subject. Your child may have to work harder to master concepts in some classes than others. If they’re struggling to succeed, consider signing them up for tutoring. They can work one-on-one with a professional who knows how to present information in different ways and leverage their strengths so they don’t feel so confused and overwhelmed.
A tutor can also support them in building more effective organizations skills, study habits, and test preparation strategies. This can help your child work more efficiently and make the most of the time they spend on their schoolwork without becoming burned out. Get your child the support they need at Crafting Scholars. Contact us today to learn more about our personalized tutoring services.