Burnout is Real – But So is Bouncing Back

Hey everyone! Today, I want to talk about something that’s been hitting hard lately—burnout. Even if you have your GCSEs coming up like me or just have been overwhelmed with school recently, you might be feeling totally drained, unmotivated, or simply over everything. Trust me, I feel you.

Burnout isn’t just being “tired”—it’s the exhaustion that no amount of sleep seems to fix. So, let’s talk about the signs (because yes, it’s real) and how we can actually do something about it.

How Do You Know If You’re Burnt Out?

Burnout isn’t just feeling tired after a long day—it’s the kind of exhaustion that doesn’t go away, no matter how much you sleep or try to push through it. Here are some signs:

You wake up tired. No matter how much you sleep, you still feel drained.
Studying feels impossible. You sit down to work, but your brain just won’t focus.
You feel disconnected. Like you’re going through the motions, but nothing really matters.
Everything irritates you. The smallest things make you frustrated or overwhelmed.
You don’t enjoy anything anymore. Even things you normally love feel like effort.
You feel guilty when you’re not working, but working feels unbearable.

If this sounds like you, it’s not because you’re lazy, and it’s not because you’re not working hard enough. You’ve just been running on empty for too long.

Why Does Burnout Even Happen?

Burnout doesn’t just appear out of nowhere—it builds up over time. Some of the biggest culprits are:

Too much to do, too little time – School, revision, extracurriculars… it piles up fast.
High expectations – Pressure (wherever it stems from) can be exhausting.
Pushing too hard for too long – You’re not a robot! Non-stop work = major brain crash.
You’re not taking care of yourself. Sleep, food, and downtime get pushed aside when you’re busy, but your body and brain need them.

How to Actually Feel Human Again

Step 1: Take a Real Break

The last thing you want to hear when exams are coming up is “Take a break,” but if your brain is completely exhausted, pushing through isn’t going to help. Try this:

Take a full day off from revision. No studying, no stressing, just rest.
Do something unrelated to school—watch a movie, go for a walk, or spend time with friends.
Remember that rest is productive. A burnt-out brain won’t absorb information properly.

Step 2: Get Proper Sleep

I know that advice like “just sleep earlier” isn’t always helpful when you’ve got deadlines, revision, and a brain that refuses to switch off. So instead of setting unrealistic expectations, here are some small, realistic tweaks that might actually help:

If you can’t sleep early, focus on sleep quality instead. Even if you’re getting fewer hours, try to make them deeper by keeping your room dark and avoiding last-minute stress before bed.
Lower the brightness on your phone instead of cutting it off completely. If scrolling helps you unwind, thats completely fine; just dim the screen or switch to “Night Mode” to make it less stimulating.
Change your environment before bed. Even moving to a different spot for the last few minutes before sleeping can help your brain separate study time from rest.
Give yourself at least 5-10 minutes to decompress. Even if you’re up late, try to do one calming thing before bed. Listening to music, watching a familiar show, or even just sitting in silence for a moment.

Step 3: Make Time for Things You Enjoy

When was the last time you did something just for fun? Burnout happens when life becomes all stress and no enjoyment. Find time for activities that make you feel good, even if it’s just for a short time each day:

Listen to music or a podcast
Read something unrelated to school
Draw, paint, or write
Go outside for some fresh air
Meet up with your friends

Step 4: Study Smarter, Not Harder

If revision is one of the reasons you’re feeling burnt out, try making it more efficient instead of just doing more of it. Here are some methods that have been working for me recently:

Use the Pomodoro technique—study for 25 minutes, then take a short break.
Try active recall instead of just rereading notes—quiz yourself or explain topics out loud.
Switch subjects every so often to keep your brain engaged.

You don’t need to spend every waking hour studying to do well—you just need to study effectively.

Step 5: Talk About It

Burnout can feel isolating, but you’re not the only one going through it.

Talk to a friend. Even just saying, “I’m feeling really overwhelmed,” can help.
Speak to a teacher if schoolwork is becoming unmanageable.
If talking isn’t your thing, try writing your thoughts down in a journal—it can help process emotions.

You don’t have to deal with burnout alone.

Final Thoughts: Be Kind to Yourself

Burnout isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign that you’ve been pushing yourself too hard for too long. The best thing you can do is step back, take care of yourself, and allow your brain to recover.

Take breaks without guilt.
Prioritize sleep.
Make time for things you enjoy.
Remember that your well-being matters as much as your grades.

If you’re feeling burnt out, listen to what your mind and body are telling you. You deserve to take care of yourself, and doing so will help you in the long run.