Opinion Piece: The Onset of Burnout
Image by Adam Richards
When it was announced we would be continuing in the online format this fall, there was a longing for the friends that would be missed, the networking opportunities lost, and the crucial discussions that would go undiscussed. Little did we know the many "discussions" ahead of us.
Unfortunately, the structure of online classes aided in the systematic feeling of failure for students this semester. With multiple micro assignments due each week across several classes, it didn't take long for the workload to pile up. Circling back to the discussions that I thought would go missed, I was fortunate enough to write upwards of 100 discussion posts this semester, many of which went unnoticed by TAs and professors. It's a weird feeling, but when communicating on D2L, it's less like talking to a wall and more so like screaming into a void.
I don't want this to sound like I’m complaining about hard work. I love a challenge. That's why I'm here. I do, however, see an issue with the direction many professors decided to go with online learning. As opposed to sticking with the traditional workload/layout of essays, reflections, and a final exam, the chosen route was to chop everything into bite-sized pieces, ultimately working out to a full semester's workload.
This model results in a culmination of multiple weeks/months of studying the same material or working on similar projects day in and day out. This feeling of exhaustion is different than that of studying for hours on end or tiredness from pulling an all-nighter. It's the smouldering flame that eventually catches, igniting students as they reach a perpetual state of exhaustion- what many call burnout.
There is no more wax on the candle to burn.
It's more than feeling out of it; this is a physiological response to our minds and bodies being under a degree of constant stress. As outlined by the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of burnout include lack of energy and changing sleep patterns, and escalate as far as becoming cynical regarding the work you are doing.
On the upside, it's over, done, finished, complete! Good job, everyone - seriously! For many of us, this is the end of our first online semester; grade points aside, we all deserve a pat on the back. For those of us struggling with the effects of the transition to the online education model, know there is help out there. Please refer to the Student Health and Wellness page on the Lakehead University website, and familiarize yourself with the supports currently at our disposal.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642
https://www.lakeheadu.ca/students/wellness-recreation/student-health-and-wellness