What is End of Semester Burnout? And 12 Ways to Help
- Sean McCormick
- May 1
- 9 min read
Updated: May 6
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It’s that time of year again. Papers are piling up, deadlines are looming, and students everywhere are running out of steam.
Does the end of the semester feel like a chaotic race to the finish line—for you AND your students? If so, you're not alone.
The end-of-semester sprint is infamous for turning even the most motivated students into walking bundles of stress.
It’s incredibly common at all levels, with college students experiencing rates of burnout at 50% or higher.
Younger students aren’t immune, either, with 75% of high school students and 50% of middle schoolers consistently feeling stressed due to schoolwork.
And yes, as a parent or educator, you’re likely feeling it, too.
But before frustration sets in completely, it's helpful to define what this burnout is, how to identify its signs, and, most importantly, explore how we can help our students recharge and finish strong.
Let's dive in👇
What is End of Semester Burnout and Why Does It Happen?
Imagine running a marathon, but at mile 22, someone adds an extra ten pounds to your backpack.
That’s what the end of the semester feels like for many students.
Burnout, in this specific context, is the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that builds up when students face weeks (or sometimes months) of mounting stress without a real break.
Now amplify that stress with imminent final exams, unfinished projects, and looming deadlines, and it’s no wonder many students (and the adults guiding them) feel overwhelmed.
83% of high school students identify school as a major stressor in their lives.
Much of it boils down to ineffective time management and the piling up of unresolved tasks.
For students who already struggle with staying organized, the end of the semester creates a perfect storm.
Add to this emotional overwhelm, poor study environments, and limited downtime, and you've got yourself a textbook case of burnout.
Interestingly, research backs up just how damaging this stress cycle can be.
Studies have shown that chronic academic stress negatively impacts focus, memory retention, and overall performance.
Long term, it can even lead to mental health struggles like anxiety and depression.
Translation? Burnout is serious, and it demands serious attention.
What Does Burnout Look Like?
Though its effects are profound and severe, burnout doesn’t exactly wear a neon sign.
It can be subtle at first, working insidiously behind the scenes, but once it escalates, the signs are hard to miss.
Sign #1: Procrastination
Not the regular I’ll-do-it-later kind, but the kind that snowballs into students avoiding entire subjects or assignments entirely.
You might also see students zoning out like they’re physically sitting at their desk, but mentally, they’re on a beach somewhere far away.
If you are struggling to help your student or child stop procrastinating, check out my article on why students procrastinate.
Sign #2: Emotional exhaustion
Emotional exhaustion leads to constant frustration or irritability.
Ever handed a student a simple reminder and gotten a reaction bordering on dramatic eye-rolling or emotional shutdown?
That’s another classic burnout symptom.
Academically, things start slipping quickly. Assignments may go completely missing, or when submitted, they lack the usual effort or care.
Combined with difficulty concentrating and processing information, these symptoms point to one conclusion.
If your student of child has ADHD and is struggling during the semester, I've developed the CHASE model as a tool to increase your awareness of the unique challenges and stages that ADHD students may face throughout the semester, enabling you to better support and guide your child's academic journey.
You can read more about the CHASE model in my article, What to expect from your student with ADHD this semester (and how to support them)
If you want to watch my full presentation I did for Fusion academy on this topic, you can watch it on Youtube here.
Sign #3: Physical manifestations
When stress hijacks the body, students may complain of:
headaches
stomachaches
frequent bouts of illness
Of course, sleepless nights spent cramming only make the situation worse.
The Impact of Burnout on Learning and Well-Being
The academic toll of burnout is crystal clear.
Students struggling to retain information and complete their work will inevitably see grades decline.
But the impact goes deeper than what’s on a report card. Mentally, burnout erodes motivation at its core.
Once-excited learners may start wondering why they’re even trying, leading to a spiral of negativity.
Emotionally, some students may develop heightened anxiety or a sense of failure, which further undermines their confidence.
Surprisingly, burnout doesn’t only weigh heavily on students. It’s a domino effect, creating tension in parent-child and student-teacher relationships.
Parents trying to encourage (or, worse, nag) their kids toward productivity may find themselves swimming against a tide of resistance.
Educators, trying to balance their professional workload, often feel frustrated navigating disengaged students.
It’s a lose-lose situation all around.
12 Ways to Help Students Combat Burnout
If the information above sounds like a lot of bad news…that’s because it is.
Burnout isn’t good for anyone, whether it’s you, your student, or your child.
But the good news is that although burnout is harmful and common, it’s also manageable—with the right strategies.
Below, we’ve outlined a few ways you can help your student finish the semester strong.
1. Help Students Plan Ahead
If your students are drowning in deadlines, one of the most practical aids is backward planning.
Teach them to look at their due dates, work backward, and create smaller, manageable milestones.
Breaking tasks into smaller pieces reduces overwhelm and creates a clear path forward.
For example, a research paper due in two weeks might mean selecting a topic by Day 2, drafting an outline by Day 5, and completing a first draft by Day 10.
2. Encourage Prioritization
When everything feels urgent, it can be hard to know where to start.
That’s where prioritization tools, like the Eisenhower Matrix, can be a lifesaver.
Help students categorize tasks into four simple boxes:
Urgent and Important
Important but Not Urgent
Urgent but Not Important
Not Urgent and Not Important
Focus on the “Urgent and Important” quadrant first.
This simple exercise can help students stop spinning their wheels and start tackling what matters most.
3. Implement Study Breaks
When you’re in a time crunch, every second counts, so it seems hard to believe that taking breaks can improve productivity. But it’s true!
Introduce your students to methods like the Pomodoro Technique, where they work for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break.
Not only does this prevent mental fatigue, but it also encourages consistent focus during work sessions.
For more tips on study skills, you can view my master page on study skills here.
4. Create a Calming Study Space
A cluttered workspace equals a cluttered mind.
Help your students create a quiet, organized study space that minimizes distractions.
Encourage them to set up a “study ritual,” like lighting a candle or making a cup of tea, to signal their brain that it’s time to focus.
5. Encourage Physical Activity
Sometimes the best thing students can do is step away from their desk.
Light exercise—even if it’s just a brisk walk or a quick yoga session—can reduce stress hormones and boost endorphins.
Physical activity has the added benefit of improving concentration, which will help when they sit back down to tackle their assignments.
6. Normalize Asking for Help
Students often believe they need to shoulder the entire burden of their academics alone.
This belief keeps them from seeking support even when they desperately need it.
But here’s the thing—even the top achievers need help sometimes.
Encourage your student to reach out to their teachers, peers, or school counselors when things feel overwhelming.
Roleplay with them if they’re not sure what to say.
For example,
“Hi [Teacher’s Name], I’m feeling a bit stuck on this project. Could we go over it together?”
Remember, taking the stigma out of asking for help goes a long way in easing academic stress.
For more tips on emailing teachers, read my article: How to Email a Teacher That Actually Gets a Response
7. Set Realistic Expectations
It’s tempting to cheer, “Go for the A!”
But in the heat of finals, this can do more harm than good.
Instead, shift the focus to effort and improvement.
Remind your student that their value isn’t tied to their grades and praise the small wins along the way.
For example, did they manage to chunk out their study schedule even though they’d rather binge-watch their favorite series?
That’s a win, even if they only got a B- instead of an A+.
Celebrate it.
8. Schedule Relaxation Time
Like germs multiplying in a petri dish, burnout thrives when students are overscheduled and under-rested.
Help them find time for relaxation in whatever form suits them.
This could mean reading for leisure, drawing, practicing a musical instrument, or just spending time with friends (non-academic conversations only, please!).
I like to refer to activities like these as items on your student or child's "dopamenu".
And a tip for parents and educators? Model this behavior yourself.
If they see you making time to decompress, they’re more likely to feel okay doing the same.
If you're looking for ideas of what to add to your child's dopamenu, check out my behavior contract which includes a full list of activities and uses the dopamenu to encourage weekly behavior outcomes.
9. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness might sound like yet another buzzword, but hear us out.
Simple strategies like deep breathing exercises, guided meditations, or even mindful coloring sessions can help students slow down and reset during high-stress periods.
Apps like Calm or even guided YouTube meditations tailored for students can be useful starting points, but mindfulness doesn’t require an app.
Something as basic as pausing and closing their eyes for 60 seconds to focus on their breathing can do wonders for their stress levels
10. Fuel Up
Picture a car running on fumes. That’s what a burned-out, under-fueled student looks like.
Sleep, hydration, and balanced meals are fuel for their minds.
Parents, consider prepping easy grab-and-go snacks like fruit, nuts, or yogurt to keep their energy up.
Or, if your kid is in high school, teach them to meal prep themselves as a way to prepare for college independence.
Educators could keep granola bars in their classrooms for students who seem extra drained.
And for the love of all things caffeine, remind your student that a venti iced coffee is no substitute for a good night’s sleep.
11. Provide Positive Reinforcement
When students feel like they’re constantly behind, it’s important to remind them of what they are getting right.
Did they manage to submit a tricky assignment on time?
Did they ask questions in class, even though they were nervous?
Praise those efforts!
On the educator side, even a quick written comment like,
“Great improvement on this essay!”
can give students a boost of energy to keep going.
12. Leverage EF Coaching
Unfortunately, burnout isn’t just an academic issue.
It’s also closely tied to key executive function skills like time management, prioritization, and decision-making.
Strengthening these skills can directly combat burnout by making students feel more in control.
Consider introducing your student to EF coaching.
Unlike traditional tutoring, EF coaching goes beyond schoolwork.
At EF Specialists, we teach students how to stay organized, procrastinate less, and tackle challenges with resilience.
Our coaches work directly with students on practical strategies like breaking tasks into manageable pieces and building confidence along the way.
For example, our Semester Success Blueprint course is a fantastic resource for students struggling under end-of-semester pressures.
It's filled with actionable tools and life-changing strategies, and designed to help students thrive both academically and emotionally.
The Bottom Line
Here are 12 ways to help with end of semester burnout:
Help Students Plan Ahead
Encourage Prioritization
Implement Study Breaks
Create a Calming Study Space
Encourage Physical Activity
Normalize Asking for Help
Set Realistic Expectations
Schedule Relaxation Time
Practice Mindfulness
Fuel Up
Provide Positive Reinforcement
Leverage EF Coaching
Hope this helps 🤙🏻
P.S. If you want to work on executive function skills with your students, consider joining hundreds of other educators and parents who have completed my Semester Success Blueprint Course. In less than 2 hours, this comprehensive course will teach you and your student the system I developed to help hundreds of students learn how to manage school effectively and raise their self-awareness and engagement with school.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and growing my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.