AS face-to-face learning setup continues to operate for the school year 2022–2023, students that are fresh from being accustomed to the “distance learning modality” inevitably encountered a variety of challenges, adjustments, and changes for the last few months that face-to-face classes have finally commenced. It significantly tested their capacities and abilities to catch up with everything that they missed during the flexible learning set-up. Due to this, students faced a lot of struggles, leading to academic burnout and various factors contribute to this, making their learning journey difficult and stressful.
By definition, academic burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress related to academic work. It is a common problem among students, particularly those in high-pressure academic environments, and can harm their academic outcomes. Since there are varying strategies, modes, and ways of teaching introduced during home-based learning, we cannot deny that students are overwhelmed and are bombarded with new lessons and topics that are quite difficult for those who are considered not “fast learners.” For these reasons, some students had a huge gap in their academic performances, which gradually resulted in them being left behind with every lesson tackled in school. Unfortunately, this did not just affect them academically; it somehow affected and impacted their physical, emotional, social, and, especially, mental health. These struggles and confusions lead to anxiety, depression, and stress, which are concerning and alarming for students. Due to stress and heavy workloads, they have a hard time handling their time properly, not using the time they spent effectively, and losing concentration and focus due to both internal and external factors. Stress also becomes the reason to reduce or lessen students’ motivation to do their best.
A lot of various stressors can lead to the development of academic burnout. For students, some stem from their problems, while the majority are school-related stress. One of the most common is the ample volume of workload that is being given to students. More often than not, students feel overwhelmed by the amount of work they are expected to complete, particularly if they have multiple assignments and exams due at the same time. Another is the pressure because of time constraints. Deadlines, especially unreasonable ones, can create a sense of urgency that can lead to stress and anxiety. Thirdly, lack of support also brings about a great deal of stress as well for students who feel unsupported by their teachers or peers may feel isolated and alone, which can exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety.
This issue seems to be part of the “learning process,” or, it is the wear and tear of daily life, but the way an individual handles it and how they respond to or manage it determines whether it will become a motivation for them to push them out of their limits and boundaries or, on the other hand, impact their academic skills. Worrying too much and lack of sleep are also the main contributors to student stress. This is why stress management matters and needs to be practiced. Not all stress has negative effects on an individual. There are also positive stresses that could benefit an individual. But distress is stress that causes negative impacts. This is why schools should also take action and observe the behavior of their students since poor stress management could potentially run a higher risk of developing serious issues regarding their health such as insomnia, obesity, anxiety, or worse, be linked to suicidal thoughts. Additionally, other negative outcomes such as poor academic performance may result, as students may struggle to concentrate on their work or may lose motivation to do their best, which can lead to lower grades.
Although students cannot completely avoid stress, there are numerous stresses that we can surely get rid of. Also, it is crucial to practice saying “no” and to stand by our decisions. One can lessen stress by using a variety of stress management techniques. Students can start to try prioritizing their workload, setting realistic goals for themselves, and seeking support from their teachers and peers. They can also take care of their physical and mental health by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in regular exercise and relaxation techniques. Always remember that an individual can alter their circumstances depending on how they respond to them. We can attempt to change it, but if not, we can alter how we feel about it. Never forget to accept what we cannot control.
In conclusion, we cannot run away from life’s challenges and struggles, as well as the stressors in it, but let us just remember that its impacts will always depend on us and how well we can manage and handle them.
