Shae-Lynn Henderson
Students Experience Increased Burnout
Photo by Olivia Slack
During the Fall 2021 semester, many Meredith students have reported experiencing burnout. The Herald interviewed students to get their perspectives on stress, burnout and if there is enough balance between work and free time among college students.
Laura Hooper, '25, is a student-athlete and has to balance a "tightly packed" schedule. She said her biggest stressor is "studying and trying to fit everything in." She said she does have free time but wishes "the College would offer and have more space to do activities on campus" since she "[doesn't] always want to leave the campus to do something fun." Hooper stated that "burnout is very real and a daily thing [she has] to overcome."
Kate Erb, '24, said her biggest stressor is "feeling as though [she] is never doing enough, then adding more to [her] plate to the point where it becomes overwhelming." Erb has noticed that "there is an imbalance in the amount of work [she] is receiving." She said she would prefer to be given time to work on assignments during class instead of having to work on them late at night. Erb said her experiences with burnout usually come in waves, especially on her busiest days.
Emilee Wolf, '23, said her biggest stressor is exams. She pointed out that she "is used to online classes with open note [exams]" and wishes "there was an easier transition back to in-person classes." Wolf is also a student-athlete which she believes is a contributing factor to her "always being busy with work." Wolf recommends "avoid[ing] procrastination as much as possible" to help alleviate some stresses and to have more free weekends.
For Ailey Smith, '22, her biggest stressor is "balancing [her] schedule." Smith said it is a "struggle fitting everything in while constantly being overloaded with work." Balancing academics, sports and work causes Smith to feel burnt out around "5 p.m. every afternoon," she said.
Burnout can come in many forms and requires recognition of symptoms such as "procrastination, self-doubt, lack of sleep and poor eating habits" according to Eastern Washington University. If students are experiencing any of these symptoms or a myriad of others, EWU recommends "focusing on better eating habits, regular exercise and daily, enjoyable 'timeouts' like yoga or meditation."
By Shae-Lynn Henderson, Staff Writer