With over 90 clubs, 20 AP classes and 25 different sports offered, many Upper School (US) students navigate a wide range of commitments. According to US Counselor Sarah Vollmann, students can overextend themselves by participating in too many activities. A combination of heavy workloads and less sleep and recovery can lead to burnout.
Ms. Vollmann defined burnout as a form of physical and mental exhaustion.
“It occurs when high school students take on too much and don’t have time to rest or take care of themselves,” Ms. Vollmann said. “Some signs are lack of motivation, fatigue, low mood and difficulty focusing.”
In her work, Ms. Vollmann sometimes notices students showing signs of stress and fatigue, and recent years have not been easy.
“We’re living through a period of heightened social tension, including racial injustice, climate concerns and political division, in addition to everyday school and teen pressures.”
She also attributed high stress levels to the lasting effects of COVID-19.
“The pandemic was really disruptive, and it’s taken time for people to regain their footing,” she said. “For some, it’s had a lasting impact on mental health, academics and social connections.”
Students who feel burnt out should take time for themselves, Ms. Vollmann said.
“It’s great when students challenge themselves and are excited about classes, but, when they don’t have enough time to also rest, hang out with friends and do fun things, that’s when they get burnt out. My advice for students is to find that balance.”
Especially during exam season, it’s important to get sleep.
“We all need rest to fuel our bodies, so it’s crucial that we protect our hours of sleep,” Ms. Vollmann said. “Ideally, high schoolers should be getting eight to nine hours of sleep. Maybe that means dropping down from an honors class or turning in homework that isn’t a masterpiece, and that’s okay.”
Peer counselor Jack Rossiter ’26 said fatigue is one of the major topics that comes up in conversations with students.
“Everyone here wants to succeed, which is great, but it also comes with pressure or burnout because everyone wants to get the A or join the next club, and it can be a lot to handle,” he said. “People here strive so high, and that’s a positive until people start sacrificing sleep because then it hurts you in the long term.”
Erin Fisman ’26 said she experienced burnout this fall.
“By Friday, I feel really exhausted because everything builds up over the course of the week. The senior fall has definitely been the busiest I’ve ever felt with college applications on top of school and sports.”
When she starts feeling overwhelmed, Erin focuses on relaxing activities.
“I try to take my mind completely off school, like going for a run, hanging out with friends or focusing on field hockey. Doing something that’s totally separate from school helps me reset.”
Charlotte Pojasek ’27 said exam season generates stress.
“December is the hardest. As exams get closer, the pressure builds, and I feel like I’m giving everything to school. By the time exams are over, I’m completely exhausted.”
Charlotte has strategies to deal with busy periods.
“Getting fresh air during the day makes a big difference,” she said. “Even a short walk or being active after practice wakes me up and helps my brain feel more alert.”
Luca Kovacs ’28 balances academics with an intense dance schedule.
“It gets hard to complete all of my work from time to time,” he said. “Having small study sessions with a few students and maybe a teacher would help people feel less stressed and more supported outside of the classroom.”
