IB Burnout: Why it Happens, and how to Get Past It
IB students are troopers; they deal with long hours, late nights, and constant pressure to perform. An Extended Essay, TOK, Followed by an Economics IA, Physics HL practice papers followed by Math AAHL prep, all consistently accompanied by one CAS project or the other. But IB students are human, and eventually all of these factors will wear them down to the point of breaking.
Identifying Burnout
Symptoms of burnout can be hard to notice, whether in others or in yourself. Here are some things to keep track of when trying to identify burnout:
Constant exhaustion, regardless of how much you rest
An increase in irritability and anxiety
Reduced focus and feelings of detachment
Dreading tasks and responsibilities that were previously enjoyable
Possible physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches and digestive issues
Burnout may present differently in different people, so it is important to keep track of your own emotional and physical state to identify burnout. In the context of the IB, you may find that it presents as:
Procrastination of EEs, IAs or your TOK work (“I’ll get to it later!”)
Reduced desire to engage with CAS initiatives (“I don’t want to paint today!”) or
Withdrawal from relationships with friends, teachers and other confidants (“I’ll see them at school tomorrow!”)
Mitigating Burnout
It is still possible to get back on track once you have identified burn out.
Reconsider Scale: When in IB you may be tempted to attempt ambitious CAS projects. Ultimately, what matters is consistency. Instead of doing a single larger scale project, try doing several smaller, more meaningful tasks
Alternate your focus: Between the EE, your IAs, and TOK, you may be tempted to handle all of them concurrently. However, you will likely get more consistent results by focusing on one of these tasks at a time. Your teachers will take time to give you feedback. Use that time to alternate your efforts.
Cooperate: No one person is an island. No one person will be perfect at every skill, subject or task. Try to work with and learn from your peers when studying. They will have as much to teach you as you will have to teach them.
Give yourself grace: IB is a difficult task for anyone to manage. It is alright to make mistakes, provided you give yourself the space and patience to learn from them.
Final thoughts
Burnout is a real and debilitating condition and should be taken seriously, but it can be combated. Don’t hesitate to reach out to others for help should you need it, and know that you have support should you seek it out.
