Everyone knows the saying “what you give is what you get,” and at college settings like Wayne State College, it holds true most of the time. But eventually, everyone runs out of something to give, and that can be pretty scary. Burnout can happen at any moment, but that doesn’t mean it has to win.  

“For me, it’s just important to focus on getting one thing done at a time. It is easy to look at everything you have to do for the next few weeks and get overwhelmed,” said Nathan Fletcher. “I have to remind myself to shift my focus to the ‘one step at a time’ mentality.”  

Burnout is a horrible rut to get stuck in, and the causes can vary for anyone. In a college setting, the most common culprits are the classes, extracurriculars, clubs or even everyday activities. Too much of anything is not good for mental health, and that reality can hit college students with crazy whiplash.  

Adjusting to this busy schedule can be especially difficult for first-year students. When freshman come to Wayne, the recommended credit hours per semester are lower to help them acclimate to the new environment. 

“It’s difficult to find the motivation to do things you know need to be done,” said freshman Dorothy Rigg. “Making to-do lists can help break large tasks into manageable pieces and help you feel more accomplished.” 

 College is a great space to find friends and have new experiences, but sometimes students can get a little too much dip on their chip. 

There are a plethora of student health resources, but one of the most personal resources are professors. When the professors know that their students are burnt out, or if a student communicates this with their professor, it can make the situation less stressful. 

“For students, I try to be very understanding, so I try to help them work through a schedule, and find what works for them,” said Professor Shelby Hagerdon. “There is no one size fits all.” 

While professors are WSC are a great resource for students, their education and experience does not make them infallible. Burnout is a human condition that happens to everyone, student or teacher, because we all have limits.  

“I try to stay on top of things, and I have two jobs, so I need to be protective over my time,” said Hagerdon. “If I am already burnt out, I have a very problem solver attitude, so I take it one at a time, and prioritize them.”