By PARKER WILLIAMS
Sheridan High School Student
The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
Burnout is on the rise among teens, and school is a leading factor. Burnout occurs for an individual when they are exhausted on a physical, mental, and emotional level all at the same time.
One Forbes study reported that over half of its respondents reported feelings of burnout in 2021, which is an increase of about 9 percent from what the pre-pandemic study reported. This can be the case especially when an individual has been doing the same activity for an extended period with hardly any to zero breaks. If the goal is for students to perform their best, then it is vital for students to receive seasonal breaks such as fall, winter, and summer breaks, and even the occasional one-day holiday break, so that they do not reach this level of burnout.
Students have spoken out about their opinions on this matter, and the reports are clear – across the board – showing that students themselves find the implementation of breaks in the school year to be of very high importance to not only their school performance overall, but especially to their mental health.
Personally, I completely agree with the data describing the benefits gained from taking breaks from school. I would go as far to say that breaks in general, no matter the task at hand, can be beneficial for me. If I spend too long doing the same thing, I begin to get distracted easily, lose focus and gain a sense of anxiousness. When I can take a short break, I can come back refreshed, with a more efficient level of attention and desire to participate in the task at hand. I even see this with my peers when we are getting close to a break: Increased lack of attention, overall rowdiness displayed, an increased lack of effort, and more. I, too, am sometimes guilty of these things.
According to Edutopia, breaks among school-aged individuals have been found to be so important that this is true even when referring to small, five-minute breaks sprinkled throughout the average school day. Studies have shown that random, short breaks throughout the school day can increase focus, increase productivity, and decrease overall stress for the students.
While my peers and I are ultimately responsible for our own actions, it would be nice if the system that we work for every day was working for us, too, rather than against us. For this to be the case, it is essential that schools continue to provide their students with seasonal breaks, one-day holiday breaks, and even occasional mini-breaks throughout the day. Allowing students this time to “reset” their brains is not only efficient for the student’s academic performance, but also for their overall well-being, creating a more positive learning environment for all.
Reference List
Kelly, J. (2021, December 10). Indeed study shows that worker burnout is at frighteningly high levels: Here is what you need to do now. Forbes. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
Terada, Y. (2018, March 9). Research-tested benefits of breaks. Retrieved March 27, 2022.