Here’s how to spot signs of burnout in your teenagers – especially around exam time

Teenagers have a lot on their plates. There are high school exams, their first jobs, friendships, and dating.

They are a busy bunch, which is why it can be hard for parents to spot signs of burnout in their teens.

Even if parents do suspect their children are juggling far too much, supporting them can prove tricky. Parents are left to walk a fine line between being there for them, and bugging them.

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Alison Wright, CEO of Reach Foundation, understands the struggle and has shared her top tips for spotting burnout in teenagers and supporting them.

Listening, not fixing

Wright suggests parents spend more time listening than trying to fix issues their teenagers share with them.

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“It’s important to hold space without rushing to solutions,” she says.

“Pressure and burnout often come with shame or guilt, so focus on deeply listening and validating their experiences,” Wright adds.

Normalise, but don’t minimise

Sometimes teenagers present problems that just don’t seem like that big of a deal to parents, but they are a big deal, to their kids.

Wright says “Feeling pressure and burnout is unfortunately quite common, especially in a world that balances both the world and the online worlds”.

She says to focus on normalising their problems and avoid minimising them.

All teenagers know is what they are currently going through, and it can be difficult to compare hardship at times of stress.

Help connect the dots

This is a gentle way to steer teenagers towards possible solutions.

Wright says “Sometimes young people don’t recognise they might be experiencing burnout”.

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“In this case, it’s important to gently reflect the patterns and habits that may highlight where burnout is showing up in their lives,” she says.

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Self-compassion

Sometimes parents forget teenagers can be hard on themselves, even before their mums and dads point out areas in which they aren’t making the best choices.

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“It’s important to make sure to remind them that rest or taking a step back when things feel a bit too hard isn’t a weakness, it’s important and necessary,” Wright says.

This is particularly important during exam times when teenagers are facing pressure from themselves, parents, and teachers, not to mention peers.

Young Australians in need of support can contact Kid’s Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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