MORGANTOWN — Warmer weather approaching typically means spring break for WVU students is almost here, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that break will not be arriving, leaving some students feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
“Burnout is essentially when we become overwhelmed, usually to the point of fatigue or stress,” said Edward Baker, clinical psychologist at Fremouw, Sigley and Baker Psychological Associates. “Your energy level comes to a point where you don’t feel like you can continue in the trajectory you’re heading.”
When it comes to students, Baker said burnout typically comes from pressure to attain academic goals, or pressure from parents and peers.
“Spring break is one of those times where students typically see the light at the end of the tunnel, and utilize that time to decompress,” Baker said.
In lieu of spring break this year, WVU announced in October 2020 that it would offer non-instructional days intermittently throughout the semester on Feb. 11 and March 3. A third non-instructional day was later added for March 2, as well as a final-exam prep day May 3.
WVU spokesperson April Kaull said this alternative was one way for the university to take all necessary precautions in accordance with public health guidance.
“Departing and returning to campus poses an increased risk to public health and the community by increasing the introduction of new cases of COVID-19; this is especially true as new variants emerged this spring,” Kaull said. “A compressed academic calendar, which keeps students on campus and encourages limited travel, helps contain the spread and better ensure classes can be conducted in-person.”
Although non-instructional days have been offered to students, Donovan Weekley, a freshman biology major, said these days were ineffective for some. Some of his assignments were due the day after a non-instructional day was held, so most of his day off was spent working.
“We’ve been pushing through school straight on through with no time to relax,” Weekley said.
Meadow Arbogast, a senior wildlife and fisheries student, said as she works her way through her third semester of online schooling, she has also been experiencing feelings of burnout. Because this is her final semester of undergraduate classes, she said her courses are some of the hardest she has had to take.
Along with feeling stressed from taking several challenging classes, she said the lack of privacy that comes with taking classes over Zoom has also been a contributing factor.
“It’s been super-intrusive, with inviting almost my entire class into my home,” she said.
With coursework and class time now just a click away on her laptop, Arbogast said she feels if she is taking time to do other activities, it takes time away from doing school work. Without the routine of attending in-person classes, she said doing other at-home activities such as eating or walking her dog feels like it is taking time out of her school day.
“Every moment of my life seems like it’s consumed by schoolwork,” she said.
For Sara McFoy, a junior biology student, finding time to study efficiently and effectively has been a challenge this semester. She said she sometimes finds it difficult to motivate herself to complete work for her online courses.
McFoy said her burnout comes from more than school-related stress. She said a large part comes from the lack of opportunity to socialize.
“I think that really has an effect, because staying in my apartment all day is not very socially stimulating,” she said. “It’s hard to get through things without other people.”
Despite the additional stresses this semester has brought, Arbogast said she understands why spring break was not a safe option for this year; however, she said the alternative provided may not have been the best solution.
“I know WVU is doing the best that they can with the pandemic and trying to keep everyone as safe as they can,” she said. “I just don’t know if spreading out these mental health days randomly and shortening the semester was the right way to go about it.”
Baker said for those who are experiencing feelings of burnout or anxiety, the best thing to do is to create short-term goals, make a list of priorities, limit time spent on social media, and do not hesitate to reach out and talk with friends or family members about it.
“Give yourself a break,” Baker said. “If you do need help, there are crisis hotlines for students. There are support systems out there, and then some individuals may even need more support through mental health services offered at whatever school or colleges they go to.”
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