Why these three causes of burnout shouldn’t be ignored

As a uni student, you probably know what it’s like to feel stressed, overworked and exhausted. But there’s a difference between having a rough week and feeling completely burned out. Burnout is when that stress doesn’t let up and starts affecting your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. It’s not just about being tired—it’s about feeling like you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of stress.

Curtin Counsellor, Penny Chai, joined us to explain what causes burnout and why it’s something you should take seriously.

“A prolonged level of time of stress will result in academic burnout if it’s not managed properly.”

Why do students get burned out?

As discussed in the first article in this series, burnout doesn’t just happen out of nowhere. It builds over time when you’re exposed to constant pressure without taking a break. Penny discussed three common reasons why students experience burnout:

1. There’s too much on your plate

One of the biggest reasons for burnout is simply having way too much on your plate at one time. Between studying for exams, writing essays, group projects, part-time jobs and trying to have a social life, it can feel like there’s no time to breathe. When you’re constantly working and don’t have time to rest, your energy gets drained, and burnout kicks in.

“If you have large amount of academic work to complete by a certain deadline, this can often add to your stress levels. It is also especially hard if you feel like you need to achieve a certain grade. You put a lot of pressure on yourself. This can cause burnout if it continues for a long period of time.”

2. You aren’t taking enough time to rest and recharge

Another reason burnout affects students is often because rest isn’t prioritised. With deadlines looming combined with the pressure to perform, it can feel like there’s no time to relax. However, constantly working without giving yourself a break can backfire. When you skip out on sleep, hobbies or even just downtime to decompress, your body and mind never get the chance to recover from stress.

“When students feel overworked, they often feel like they need to sacrifice the other part of their life in order to catch up. They may stay up late to finish assignments or overnight, not sleep at all, to prepare for exams. They may cancel plans, they don’t give themselves enough time to relax. If you keep doing that for weeks and weeks, it is really hard on the body. If you keep sacrificing exercise, family time and personal care time, and it will become too much and you’ll eventually burn out.”

3. You put unrealistic expectations on yourself

Perfectionism is another big contributor to burnout amongst students. When you set impossibly high standards for yourself, every task becomes a source of stress. You might spend hours obsessing over tiny details in an assignment, constantly second-guessing your work, or feeling like nothing you do is ever good enough. This relentless pressure to be perfect can make even small tasks feel overwhelming, leading to exhaustion and frustration.

“You may be at a higher risk of burnout if you have very poor self-esteem or you’re a perfectionist. Putting unrealistic expectations on your study or not having enough skills to cope with stresses can contribute to burnout.”

Is burnout really that serious?

According to Penny: yes, burnout is serious, especially if you don’t deal with it. It’s not just about feeling tired—it can affect your mental and physical health, and it can seriously impact your life as a student.

“If you’re experiencing burnout and you’re not doing much about it, what we usually see in our service is that a lot of students eventually result in failing all their units. It can be serious because you could lose the degree you’re working hard for.”

Aside from the academic risks of burnout, you also might experience:

• Physical health issues: Constant stress weakens your immune system, which can lead to you getting sick more often. You might also have trouble sleeping or experience headaches and other physical symptoms.
• Mental health risks: Chronic burnout often leads to anxiety, depression and feelings of hopelessness. You might feel like no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get ahead.
• Strained relationships: Burnout can cause you to withdraw from friends and family, leading to isolation. You might find yourself saying “no” to social events because you’re too tired or overwhelmed to participate, which only makes things worse.

While burnout is a serious issue, it doesn’t need to rule your life. By understanding what causes it, you can take steps to manage your stress and avoid hitting breaking point. Remember, your wellbeing is just as important as your grades, and taking care of yourself is essential for long-term success.

If you or someone you know are experiencing burnout and need support, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our Wellbeing Advisors, or get in touch with our Psychology and Counselling Service.

This is part two of our three-part article series on burnout. You can read part one and three at the links below.

Burnout: What is it and how to spot the signs

Learn these key strategies for managing burnout now and into the future