End-of-school-year burnout? We’ve got you covered.

You’re not imagining it. End-of-year malaise is real. Just like adults, it’s not uncommon for kids to experience burnout. The ongoing stress, pressure, and monotony of the school year can cause a decrease in overall motivation and focus. Most young people are looking forward to the sunnier, more leisurely days that the summer can offer, making it difficult for them to maintain the same level of dedication that they may have shown earlier in the school year. 

Motivation also tends to change towards the end of the school year, as there are fewer goals to meet and fewer projects that we are striving towards completing. Students have already started the classes, learned a majority of the material, and their minds are fatigued by processing new information at a fast clip. But the good news is that by opening up the conversation and setting supportive goals together, you can get through the school year together.

Signs of school burnout

Every child is different, but signs of burnout can include: 

• Not wanting to go to school or changes in grades 
• Procrastination surrounding school assignments
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns
• Changes in mood, increased irritability
• Being socially isolated or withdrawn 
• Physical complaints, such as stomachaches or headaches

When it comes to academic burnout, younger children may revert back to past behaviors, like tantrums or inability to concentrate. Older children and teens may become increasingly isolated or experience changes in mood. 

How to handle end-of-school-year malaise 

• Open up the conversation. If you notice that your child’s motivation is waning, simply start by opening up the conversation surrounding their experience. Ask them how they’re feeling about school and listen without interrupting, asking curious questions along the way. Validate their feelings and let them know that you are glad that they’re sharing their experience with you. Reassure your child that you are there to support them through the remainder of the school year and beyond.
  
  
• Come up with a plan. Discuss specific expectations and goals, making a plan for how you can work together to meet them. For example, if your child is becoming too distracted and forgetting to do their homework, come up with a plan to organize their study area, create reminders, come up with a daily schedule, or create realistic boundaries surrounding tech usage. Try to break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps and keep daily routines as consistent as possible. Let your child know that you will be there to help them meet these goals, while ensuring that they’re getting enough rest, that they have enough time to do what they love, and that they’re supported along the way.
  
  
• Consider a mental health day. While it’s important to emphasize the importance of showing up for responsibilities, you may consider offering your child a mental health day to recharge and focus on their overall well-being. Some schools even have policies surrounding mental health days, recognizing them as a legitimate reason to take a day off. If you decide to let your child have a mental health day, you can use this time to get out in nature together, start an art project, try out mindfulness techniques, journal, read, or experiment with any activities that feel restorative and calming for everyone in your family. 

• Take good care of yourself, parents. Chances are that most parents are also feeling pretty burned out by the end of the school year. It’s not always easy to put into practice, but one of the best things parents can do to help their child is to take care of themselves. Having a supportive network as a parent can reduce feelings of stress and isolation that often come with raising children. So parents, the next time you find yourself struggling to motivate your child, ask if there is one small thing you can do to take care of yourself. Is there someone you can text or call to vent? Can you ask someone in your support circle to pick your child up from school one day a week so that you can have some time for yourself? Or can you get outside for some fresh air when you’re feeling overwhelmed? It can be easy to criticize ourselves for not always doing it perfectly, so do your best to speak kindly to yourself and ask for help when you need it. 

After months of structure, school stress, and nonstop expectations, a lot of kids just hit a wall. And parents and caregivers, you’re allowed to be tired too. It’s okay to wobble a bit at the finish line—just keep moving forward. Remember that the team at Bend is here if you need some support along the way.