Written by Nicolle F.
Artwork by Sophia P.
Dear Productive yet Tired Teens,
I brought out the best but also the worst in you. You can choose to think of me as your source of mental health deterioration or your constant motivator. That’s up for you to decide. Whatever you choose, remember that it’s impossible to get rid of me if you can’t find a balance. Just letting you know, I’ve witnessed your victories and even your failures. Although, I do give myself credit for being a huge part of the process. At such a young age, you sought out validation from others. You constantly strived to be the “perfect” or “ideal” teenager at home, at school, at events, etc. And with that, having to manage your roles and its responsibilities is certainly one of the biggest challenges in life. Not only that, but dealing with insecurities and doubts as well. “Hmm I wish I was like ___” or “If ___ can do it, I have to do it as well!”. Pushing yourself to your limits and being consumed by your desire to feel enough or even be better than others. Let me guess what happens next.
Do you grab every opportunity you see and eventually overwork yourself to the point wherein you lose interest? Do you lash out at others due to the pressure you’re under? Do you constantly feel exhausted despite getting sleep or not sleeping well at all? If you said yes to any, I am truly sorry about that. And let me reiterate once again, I won’t be gone unless you find balance. Trust me, it’s a long and tiring process to get to the point wherein you feel content with yourself but I know you will achieve that. This isn’t an overnight thing darling, it takes time and effort to value your self worth. Some days, you feel like you’re on top of the world. Getting the job done with ease, feeling productive & realizing that you want to stay like that forever. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for most teenagers. It’s difficult to understand that not all days have the same, exact routine you follow. On some days, things won’t turn out your way and you feel so uncertain. Then, you try to punish yourself because you feel at fault for why the things aren’t in order. You feel as if you didn’t do “enough” that day and put pressure on yourself to overwork and to compensate for that.
“Your work is not your worth”. Let me remind you that there is nothing to compensate for. Let me remind you that there really are things you cannot control. Let me remind you that your efforts are enough. It is important that you know that whatever you feel is valid. It is all part of the journey. However, never let your insecurities hinder you from grabbing the opportunities you so righteously deserve. Do not let your fears overpower your passion and ambition. You are capable of so much and each day you keep waking up to, you are one step closer to reaching your goals. Regardless of the circumstance, you are given the opportunity to start a new chapter for yourself. A new chapter wherein you value your worth but also acknowledge your vulnerability. A new chapter wherein you empower yourself and others. And once you’ve reached that chapter of your life, I’ll be visiting less frequently, however, I’ll still be there. Looking out for you always.
Your best friend, Burnout
Sources:
“Tips for Preventing Student Burnout”. Florida National University. 20 August 2019. Retrieved from https://www.fnu.edu/tips-preventing-student-burnout/
“Burnout among students on the rise”. Lee Chonghui, The Star. 05 April 2020. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/education/2020/04/05/burnout-among-studentson-the-rise
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