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| Artcard by Julia Mendoza |
Picture yourself in a car, speeding down on a long highway. At first, the long roads feel endless, and the speed feels exhilarating. The rush of cold wind on your face invites you to step harder on the gas pedal, accelerating past limits. And then suddenly, you look at the dashboard, and the fuel light flashes, warning you of the car’s low fuel level. “Just a little farther,” you tell yourself. Anxious, yet the goal to reach the destination remains. But then the engine makes a weird sound, the tires drag, and then suddenly, you’re stranded in the middle of a long highway, wondering how you can run on an empty tank.
Burnout feels just like that. Burnout, according to Julia Martins, is the feeling of emotional, physical, or mental exhaustion caused by overwork. It’s pushing through exhaustion, believing that you can keep going until it hits you hard, and you can’t go on anymore.
While it may be confusing to identify whether you’re just stressed and in dire need of a break or if you’re dealing with a full case of burnout, it’s important to understand the difference between the two. Stress is a natural human reaction—It’s what our body feels when faced with a challenge. It can manifest in situations like feeling a bit overwhelmed and tired trying to complete a task, only to return to your old self after a well-deserved break. Depending on an individual’s personality, stress can even be positive, like a driving force to better accomplish things.
Burnout, on the other hand, isn’t like that. It’s a syndrome caused by a buildup of stress that hasn’t been effectively managed. It’s a big block that hinders you from being productive, draining all your energy.
The truth is that burnout can happen to anyone. And in most cases, people don’t even realize they’re suffering from it until they see a huge decline in both their performance and well-being. At first, in the early stages, the signs may be subtle. One can feel more tired than usual, have difficulty in focusing, and even lose spark with the things they usually enjoy doing. The mistake comes in when we brush off this occurrence and label it as just another stressful day.
Over time, this exhaustion can deepen and cause more damage. In an article by Melinda Smith and Sheldon Reid, they introduced the three (3) classifications of burnout symptoms and signs: physical, emotional, and behavioral. Physical signs include feeling tired and drained, suffering from frequent illnesses and headaches, and observing a change in appetite and sleep habits. Emotional signs involve feeling helpless and trapped, self-doubt and viewing oneself as a failure, and losing motivation.
On the other hand, behavioral symptoms consist of frequently trying to withdraw oneself from responsibilities, procrastination or getting things done slower than usual, and even isolation. While, of course, it may vary from person to person, these symptoms should be acknowledged rather than dismissed before they can take a toll on our well-being.
To shed light on how we can avoid and stop burnout in its tracks, here are individuals who have shared their experiences, ways of coping, and how it has helped them handle their burnouts.
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| Job Clarence Centeno Sophomore, AB Communication |
For Job Clarence Centeno, a 2nd year AB Communication student, burnout wasn’t just a simple exhaustion—it was a heavy force that slowly affected different aspects of his life such as academics and social connections.
“I recently experienced burnout due to personal struggles and academic pressure, and it hit me harder than I expected. It wasn’t just feeling tired—it was the kind of exhaustion that made everything feel draining, even the things I used to enjoy. One of the biggest signs was isolation. I started skipping classes, not because I was lazy, but because I just couldn’t bring myself to show up. A week or two before this interview, I missed my Tuesday class because I needed a break, and I told my friends, “I’m having one of those days.” I found myself withdrawing from people, even when I didn’t necessarily want to be alone. Socializing felt like a chore, and even simple conversations took a lot of energy.”
To cope, Centeno turned to simple yet meaningful coping mechanisms that allowed him to recharge without the pressure to be productive. His alone time meant…
“One of the best things I do for myself when I’m burnt out is taking solo dates, especially to the movies. There’s something about sitting in a dark theater and being in my own little world that helps me reset. Going out has always been my way of coping—whether it’s walking around aimlessly or just sitting in a coffee shop.
Sleep is another major thing for me. It sounds simple, but when I’m overwhelmed, getting enough rest makes all the difference...At the end of the day, I remind myself that it’s okay to pause and take breaks when I need to.”
Centeno also reflects on a deeper truth about burnout—that it doesn’t just stem from personal problems but is also an effect of larger societal pressures.
“I might get a little political and “woke” here, but I truly believe that burnout isn’t just a personal problem—it’s systemic. We live in a world that glorifies productivity, making us feel guilty for taking breaks, but that’s something we have to unlearn. Capitalism convinces us that our worth is tied to how much we produce, but that’s a lie. You are valuable even when you’re resting, even when you’re doing nothing.”
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| Abigail Belza Sophomore, AB Communication |
While Centeno’s burnout was linked to withdrawing himself socially, Abigail Belza, also a 2nd year AB Communication student, had an experience that unfolded more gradually. Disguised as mere laziness, her burnout manifested in losing the spark in the things she once felt excitement about doing.
“Burnout hit me like a shift in rhythm—not sudden, but gradual. At first, I thought it was just laziness, but it was actually burnout. Wala ka pang ginagawa pero pagod ka na...What once flowed effortlessly and the things that once drove me to wake up each day became just another mechanical task—a burden I had to fulfill. The spark that made it exciting faded, and what I loved felt more like a burden than a passion. The will to create vanished, and I was left feeling disconnected from what used to light me up”
Her turning point came when she decided to acknowledge the weight she was actually carrying. By being honest to herself, Belza was able to clearly see the situation she was in and find ways on how to better take care of her well-being.
“What helped me recover and regain my energy was first acknowledging that I was actually experiencing burnout. Being honest with myself and recognizing what I was feeling allowed me to understand how to approach the situation…I realized that when my hands were too full, I felt paralyzed and unable to do what I loved or what mattered to me. So, I started taking a step back, giving myself space, and not forcing myself to do everything. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary to regain my balance.
Belza shared how reassessing her priorities made her direct her strength towards important things and let go of those that drained her energy. By acknowledging and respecting her limits, she was able to regain her balance and reconnect with her passion.
When asked about their advice to anyone who’s currently experiencing burnout, both Centeno and Belza stressed the fact that taking a break when things feel too overwhelming is not just valid but also essential.
“I know the pressure to keep going can be overwhelming, especially when it feels like there’s so much to do, but you can’t pour from an empty cup. Let yourself rest without feeling like you have to “earn” it,” Centeno shared with CASA Chronicle. He highlighted the importance of slowing down and allowing yourself to recharge, stressing that “you are more than what you produce, and that’s something worth remembering.” As for Belza, she emphasizes that burnout is a manifestation of the need for rest. She then adds, “Be intentional about where you direct your energy—choose the things that bring you joy. Use your choices wisely.” She urges those experiencing burnout to listen to their hearts and pay attention to what they need. In her words, “Reconnect with the reason why you love what you're doing—remember your ‘why.’”
Burnout is more than just simple exhaustion. It’s our body’s cry for rest and a sign that something needs to change. Through the experience of Job and Abigail, one thing becomes clear: the way to keep going isn’t about pushing yourself harder—it’s about knowing when to slow down and take breaks. Whether it’s taking yourself out on a date, reassessing priorities, or simply buying yourself a treat that can ignite a simple spark to your routine, it’s important to take note that the path to overcoming burnout starts by being kind to yourself.
Going back to our metaphor, burnout can be like running on an empty tank. No matter how far the destination is, no matter how much getting there matters to us; resuming the journey can only be possible once there is fuel. Just like a car that needs refueling, we, too, need to take our time to pause and recharge.
After all, you can’t keep going if you’re running on empty. So remember: it’s alright to pause, refill your tank, then slowly move forward until you regain your pace back.
