“I’m Tired, Not Lazy”: What Teen Burnout Really Feels Like”

How to recognize and deal with academic pressure and burnout in high school

I used to think being tired all the time just meant I wasn’t trying hard enough.
That if I could just wake up earlier, plan better, or be a little more “on top of things,” I’d finally catch up.

But no matter how much I pushed myself, I always felt behind.
Behind on school, behind on extracurriculars, behind on sleep.

Everyone around me seemed to be doing everything. AP classes. Clubs. Sports. Volunteering. Perfect test scores. College prep. It felt like if I slowed down for even a second, I’d fall off the map completely.

Eventually, I stopped feeling anything. I was just… numb. Exhausted but wired. Motivated one day, then totally burnt out the next. I couldn’t even enjoy the stuff I used to love. Not because I didn’t care—but because I had nothing left in the tank.

That’s when I realized I wasn’t lazy. I was burned out. And it turns out, I’m not the only teen going through this.

What is teen burnout?

Burnout is more than just being tired.
It’s a deep, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by constant stress—usually from school or performance pressure. When you’re burned out, your brain and body are literally begging for rest, but your schedule doesn’t stop.

It shows up like this:

• You start losing motivation, even for things you used to care about
• You dread school or activities you once enjoyed
• You feel guilty for resting, even when you need it
• You crash emotionally, often at the worst times
• You either overwork or shut down completely

And no, it’s not just a “high achiever problem.” You can feel burnt out no matter your grades or goals. It’s about the weight of expectations—yours, and everyone else’s.

Here’s what helped me

1. I stopped glorifying being busy.
   I used to think being maxed out meant I was doing well. But being constantly overwhelmed isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign.
2. I started checking in with myself.
   I got in the habit of asking myself, “Am I doing this because I want to, or because I feel like I have to?” That one question helped me cut out so much noise.
3. I made rest part of my plan.
   This one took the longest. I had to learn that rest isn’t earned, it’s necessary. Real productivity includes breathing room.
4. I started saying no.
   This one felt terrifying. But choosing a few things to do well is way better than doing everything halfway. Saying no made space for me to feel human again.
5. I talked to someone.
   Opening up to a school counselor helped more than I expected. Just saying the words “I think I’m burnt out” gave me room to stop pretending I was fine.

If this sounds like you…

Burnout is real. Teen stress is real. Academic pressure is real.
And pretending it’s “just a phase” doesn’t make it go away.

If you’re feeling tired in your bones, like the spark is gone and the pressure never stops—please know this: you don’t have to keep pushing like this.

It’s okay to take a step back.
It’s okay to say, “I’m not okay.”
You are not falling behind by protecting your peace. You are actually finding your way forward.

Are you addicted? Are you under stress? Need to talk to someone? Text “HELLO” to 741741 or visit Crisis Text Line. Trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 to help you with your stress.