When You’re Tired, But Not Just Tired: Understanding Teen Burnout

 There’s a kind of tired that sleep doesn’t fix. You know the one. It’s when your brain feels foggy, your motivation is gone, and even the smallest tasks start to feel like climbing a mountain. You might still be doing your homework, still showing up to practice, still replying to texts, but deep down, it’s like something’s off. That’s not just regular tiredness. That might be burnout.

Teen burnout is real, even if adults don’t always call it that. It’s that feeling of being emotionally drained, mentally overloaded, and totally disconnected from the things you usually care about. It can come from school, family pressure, extracurriculars, social expectations, or a mix of all of it. You’re juggling a lot. And even if you’re good at handling it, it’s okay if it’s starting to wear you down.

What makes burnout hard to spot is that it doesn’t always look like a breakdown. Sometimes it looks like going through the motions. Like putting on a face. Like thinking, “I just need to get through this week,” every single week. It builds up slowly, until one day, even the things that used to make you happy feel kind of… dull.

So how do you know if you’re burned out? Here are a few signs:

• You feel exhausted no matter how much you sleep

• You’re getting irritated or overwhelmed more easily

• You’ve lost motivation, even for things you used to enjoy

• You feel numb, disconnected, or just "blah"

• You’re zoning out a lot, or emotionally checking out

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak or lazy. It just means your brain and body have been in overdrive for too long. And you can’t keep pouring from an empty cup.

So what can you do about it?

First, give yourself permission to slow down. That doesn’t mean quitting everything or disappearing, it means creating breathing room. Even 10 minutes a day where you’re not thinking about school, social media, or being “productive” can help reset your system. Go outside. Stretch. Doodle. Listen to music with your phone on Do Not Disturb. Anything that helps you just be, without performing.

Next, talk to someone. Burnout thrives in silence, and you don’t have to push through it alone. Whether it’s a friend, a sibling, a school counselor, or a support space like MindBridge, it’s okay to say, “Hey, I’m really burnt out right now.” That one sentence can open a door.

Lastly, remind yourself that rest is not a reward. You don’t have to earn a break by reaching your breaking point. Your worth isn’t tied to how much you can carry. You’re allowed to feel tired. You’re allowed to step back. And you’re allowed to take care of yourself before everything falls apart.

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’ve been trying really hard for a really long time. And it’s okay to pause. You’re human. That’s enough.