Stop romanticizing burnout: Academic validation should not come at our expense

Burnout is defined as “a state of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance, and negative attitudes toward oneself and others”.

It is not a symbol of ambition, strength, or resilience, but a warning that something is deeply wrong with how we define success.

The pressure to excel at university has become more than just a challenge; it is a competition that demands constant performance. With students being praised for how much they can handle rather than how well they are coping, social media has begun to glamorise all-nighters, equating exhaustion with excellence. Rest has become a guilty pleasure.

The transition from high school to university can be particularly difficult. While this change promises independence and a vast array of new opportunities, it strips away the structure we once relied on.

You are no longer told when to be in class, what to study, or how to pace your work. Parents are no longer involved, and the buildup of deadlines can become overwhelming.

Particularly with the expectation of high achievement, resilience has become performative. Many students enter university with the mindset they carried from school: That grades are everything, academic success equals worth, and that pushing past your limits is something to be proud of.

This mindset, once reinforced by rewards and perfect report cards, becomes toxic in a university setting where expectations are higher, the outcomes (generally) much smaller, and the support far thinner.

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The result is a cycle of burnout. Students go from being top of their class in school to feeling average or invisible at university. Comparison creeps in. You see classmates land internships, finish assignments early, or seem unfazed by the same stress that’s eating you alive. Instead of reaching out, you retreat and overwork to compensate for the quiet fear that maybe you’re not enough after all.

You start skipping meals to meet deadlines, trading sleep for study, and hiding your struggles out of fear of seeming weak. Because this is so common, it starts to feel normal. Phrases like “I’ve had no sleep this week” or “I haven’t eaten all day” are met with admiration or respect, instead of concern. If this continues, we are sending the message that students must suffer to succeed. It is time to change that message.

Let’s stop demanding students be extraordinary just to be seen. It’s important for universities to value students not just for their output, but for their wellbeing. Support should be visible, accessible, and treated as essential.

Success should not come at the expense of your own mental health. Academic validation should not cost you your serenity. As students navigate the shift from school to university, we must build systems that support the whole person, not just the performer that they are forced to be.

The university and EUSA offer a range of mental wellbeing services. Indigo Williams, EUSA’s VP for welfare told The Tab Edinburgh: “EUSA and the university provide concerted emphasis on supporting the mental health of our students to prevent burnout.

“To this end, there are a range of resources and services available. The university’s Health and Wellbeing Center, located in Bristo Square, houses the Mental Health Councillors and the Wellbeing Advisors.

“Both teams offer same day emergency appointments for students (online or in person), and the wait time for scheduled appointments is lower than ever.

“Right next door, EUSA’s Potterrow Dome is home to The Advice Place and the Student Voice Hub. Both are wells of information and compassion.” The Advice Place also has a hub at the Kings Building campus.

She urged students that may be struggling with burnout or their mental health to “pop in for a chat, to rant, and for advice on any issue affecting you in your academic or personal life.”