Teenage Burnout

Burnout Factors for Highly Sensitive Teens (and Teens who learn and think differently)

Burnout can happen to anyone. Sports players can burn out. Workers can burn out at work. Students in medical school can burn out. However, kids with different learning styles and perspectives may be more likely to burnout at school because of several factors:

Academic Factors

To achieve similar results, they may have to work harder or longer than their peers.

They may get extra instruction or therapy on top of their already full schedules. Children who struggle with attention have to work hard just to focus. They may sit with their work for hours and not make much progress with it—and still feel exhausted when they get up.

Emotional Factors

Children can’t control or “turn off” their learning and thinking differences. They may feel victimised on top of feeling stress.

Their self-esteem may be affected by being aware of their differences. This can make kids feel less motivated to try as hard. And that can make tasks feel harder and take longer.

They know what it feels like to fail. They may feel extra anxious about their performance, which also adds to their stress.

How to Prevent School Burnout

The best way to prevent school burnout is to help your child develop time management skills and take effective breaks. Here are more tips to keep your child from burning out and signs of stress to watch out for.

If you’re concerned about what you’re seeing, speak with your child’s teachers, IEP team, or tutor. Your child’s teachers may have suggestions for reducing the amount of additional work your child gets.

Four Anti-Burnout Mindful Takeaways

How do you nourish and support your child’s mental health? Do one of them as soon as you can.

If children feel stuck in their head, suggest them to unplug and take a short walk, scan their body, pet a pet, or engage in some activity that gets them out of their head and into their life.
When children feel a lot of pressure from their to-do list, worries, and the like, suggest them to talk to you, to a friend or to a family member. Try face-to-face communication or video calling.
Nap or sleep if they’re tired.
Invite them to take a moment every day or night to think of five things they are thankful for. Suggest them to observe how they feel as they do so.

Sources
Mindell J. A. and J. A. Owens. 2003. A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Sleep: Diagnosis and Management of Sleep Problems. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.