Beware the Burnout Burden

Two majors, one minor and 100 extracurricular obligations. Perfect GPAs, 18-credit semesters and meetings after classes end. Late nights in the Information Commons, too much coffee and internship applications that require previous internship experience that require previous internship experience.

And, of course, not enough time in a day — or a week, or even a year — to accomplish everything required of college students in a world obsessed with wealth, success and ideal resumes. 

God forbid one finds an hour or so a week to relax or write an article for the Phoenix — which looks good on a resume, but also provides a fulfilling, creative outlet. That hour rarely ever comes. 

A therapist once told me perfectionism will inevitably result in burnout. It’s simply impossible to do it all. At some point, whether 10 years from now or one week down the road, it’ll start to seem impossible to do anything. 

Research suggests students should spend two to three hours every week, per credit hour, studying to be successful in classes. A majority of college students — 80% — also work part-time or full-time jobs, most upwards of 20 hours a week. 

About 60% of students spend at least one hour a week participating in student clubs and organizations, according to a 2023 study from the University of California. But some spend over 30. 

When accounting for leadership positions and increased on-campus involvement to boost a resume or get a fancy title, the commitments cut into a week’s mere 168 hours.

The recommended seven hours of sleep becomes completely unrealistic when there are essays to write and philosophy passages to read. Not staying on top of homework can lower a student’s GPA, yet not getting those crucial hours of rest can result in poor health and depression, according to Mayo Clinic.

Social connections can benefit mental health and well-being — but the anxiety of impulsively going to a Cubs game with my roommate gets tainted by the knowledge that I should’ve been getting ahead on a final project. The hour I spent watching the finale of “The White Lotus” displaces the time I should’ve spent reading “Frankenstein” for my Romantic-era literature class. 

Trading memories for study sessions — or vice versa —  can take its toll mentally and academically. Doing it all can leave time for nothing. 

Time for leisure and enjoyment can’t even be scribbled in on the week’s schedule. I don’t remember the last time I read a book for fun, despite my love for reading. I haven’t explored a new Chicago neighborhood in ages without feeling the need to rush home to the stack of Shakespeare books on my desk in ages. 

Every minute is occupied by doing the things I need to accomplish to become the person I want to be, and there’s little time for the things who make me who I am. It’s exhausting, like I’m running a marathon and the only options are to slow down — and lose — or to keep pushing and pass out before I reach the finish line. 

For someone whose greatest fear has always been failure, neither option seems promising. 

But you can’t run forever. At some point, whether one or 20 miles in, a water break has never seemed so appealing. Those few extra minutes scrolling through Instagram Reels become a tempting break from the trials of writing a perfect paper. The allure of getting an extended dinner with friends offers a much needed pause from planning a philanthropy event.

At least for one of the few spare minutes in a day, thoughts can be turned off —  even if it does come at the expense of worrying later about not doing enough. 

I feel catastrophically disappointed in myself when I’m racing against the clock to finish a discussion post or feel as though I haven’t accomplished enough in a day. But being good at everything is simply impossible, especially when motivation crumbles under the pressure of exhausted perfectionism. The next best thing is doing what’s good for oneself.

Billy Joel was onto something when he sang “You’d better cool it off before you burn it out” in “Vienna.” I’ve spent so long sprinting through academics and extracurriculars, trying to get first place, I didn’t realize I was running in circles.

I’ve spent my hours as an undergraduate sprinting to a finish line I can no longer see. I’ve been going in reverse, losing sight of what my goal really is — to live a good, happy and successful life, but also a life of creativity and purpose.

It shouldn’t be this complicated to have both. 

Hard work is important. Good grades, dedication and improvement are important. But sometimes, the world just needs to slow down — because we’ll all burn it out if we don’t.