Your Back-to-School Burnout Prevention Plan with Jane Long, LPC
- Aug 17
- 3 min read
Let's make a back-to-school burnout prevention plan.
Whether you are a busy parent to school-aged children or a stressed out college student, these strategies can help make this season more manageable.
First, what is burnout? It's a state of severe physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by long-term unmanaged stress. It happens when the demands of our roles overwhelm our resources or ability to cope (National Alliance on Mental Health, 2026).
Burnout can often happen during busy seasons that cause changes to our routines. Pair this with increased demands like buying school supplies, managing new schedules, and having to make numerous decisions in order to plan ahead, and you've got a recipe for extreme stress. But stress doesn't have to become burnout. If stress is short-term and managed well, it can even be beneficial to us long-term, preparing us for greater challenges in the future.
Now, how do we build a back-to-school burnout prevention plan?
Two key factors are going to be organization and pacing.
If you do not have a planner, get one. Give your brain a break by writing down important events and deadlines. Burnout occurs when we try to rely on memory alone. If you are a parent, get a visual family calendar that you put in a shared space for all to see. Like a dry erase calendar on the fridge. Review this nightly to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Limit your commitments during this already busy season. Conserve your energy. Something is likely to come up that requires your attention. Whether it's an unforeseen circumstance, a last minute change, or something you've forgotten, you'll want to be able to contend with it quickly and effectively. This might mean saying no to things that are not required — like volunteering, going to parties, helping friends move, etc. These are important things, but save them for when your new routines are more established.
Schedule and prioritize down time for yourself and your children. Since we already know back-to-school is stressful, let's plan some relaxation time. Make an effort each evening for everyone to have a break. Allow children to have some unstructured play time after school before starting homework. Order a pizza so you won't have to stress over dinner. Watch a favorite movie as a family.
Don't neglect your healthy habits. Try to prioritize regular exercise as it's an excellent stress management tool and get enough sleep to recover. Don't forget to use short moments during the day to embrace silence and take some deep breaths. Remember to take things one step at a time.
Lastly, do not hesitate to reach out to others for support. Teachers, administrators, and academic advisors are well aware of how stressful this process can be, so don't hesitate to reach out for some resources. Prioritize time to connect with friends and loved ones.
If you find yourself feeling too overwhelmed to get started, remember that it's okay to reach out for help from a licensed professional. A solid back-to-school burnout prevention plan doesn't have to be built alone — at Stanley Psychology, we are here and always ready to help. Reach out today for additional support.
Reference
National Alliance on Mental Health. (2026, August 14). Compassion Fatigue and Burnout. nami.org
