What Drains Your Energy and How Do You Avoid Burnout? by Angelia Schmerr
We all have certain recurring tasks that stretch us to our limits and leave us feeling mentally and physically exhausted. As a high schooler, one thing that personally drains a substantial portion of my energy is managing multiple tasks regarding homework, tests, or projects at school. Juggling deadlines and meeting requirements split my focus so much yet all require my full attention, and it can feel very overwhelming and exhausting to mentally keep track of every task I must complete.
Another thing that consistently stretches me is socializing in large groups. I loved going to my school’s homecoming dance earlier this year, but I'm naturally introverted, so before I spent a bunch of hours with my friends and date, I took some time for myself so I would not feel like I was running on a nearly empty social battery by the end of the dance. This made the experience much more enjoyable. It's not that I do not enjoy these things, but the effort of making small talk, keeping up with everyone's conversations, and maintaining my energy in these settings takes a lot of effort.
Why do these tasks require so much of my energy, though? For the school tasks, they demand constant attention and multitasking. There is rarely any time to fully focus on one thing before the next issue demands my attention. As for socializing, it requires energy management and trying to stay engaged when all I really want is a bit of quiet time to recharge my social battery.
To avoid burnout, I have had to figure out strategies to manage multiple things at once in a healthy manner that does not leave me feeling completely exhausted by the end. This is why l use time-blocking and task management apps like TimeBloc and Todoist on my phone to organize my workload and give myself space to focus. Additionally, when it comes to social situations, I've learned to set boundaries, like taking time alone before a big event or leaving early if my social battery is feeling drained. I used to enjoy the prospect of a sleepover right after a school dance where we stayed up all night, but I soon began to always feel horrible the next day because I needed rest. Now, I instead intentionally build in downtime afterward to help my energy recover faster.
Now, I invite you to ask yourself the same questions:
What are the things that consume the majority of your energy?
How do or should you healthily manage them to avoid burnout?
Take a moment to reflect on the areas in your life that may need better balance. I encourage you to find ways you can intentionally recharge your energy to avoid excess stress and inevitable burnout.
Additional tools for when you may be in crisis:
U.S. Crisis Text Line: 741-741
Ohio Mobile Response and Stabilization Services: 1-888-418-MRSS (6777)