Student Q: How do you prevent burnout? I worry that the career field I’m entering is going to be mentally and emotionally draining.

Make sure to create boundaries around work, work colleagues, friends and family, or whatever you need to recharge your batteries. As people, we know when we’re not at our best and we can feel ourselves getting a little crispy before actually burning out- these are the times to take time for you. Utilize the wellness wheel to figure out what is causing you to feel burned out, what you feel fulfilled in and doing more of what is making you feel happy and fulfilled.

– Charnele Luster

As a former high school math teacher, I’m not going to lie and say that burnout is not real. However, I feel like if you’ve selected a career field that you’re passionate about, the mental and emotional drain will be worth it. For me, I did actually burnout three years in and that’s when I went back to get my Ph.D. Now, I’m happy to say that being a professor here at SLU is what I can see myself doing for the rest of my working life. You’ll know when you find your forever job.

– Jessica Sierk

I have been in job where I have felt burnout, so I left it and pursued a field that aligned more with my goals and passion.  It is okay to leave a job, or to switch gears and go into another field.  To me, my job does not feel like a job it feels more like I am pursuing my passion for helping and advocating for others.

–Sharmela Garcia Martin

Burnout is very real and it can be hard for entry level employees to find time for themselves. Something that really helps me is that I do not have my email connected to my phone. When I used to, I found myself feeling like I was always working, even when I was on vacation or trying to enjoy the weekend. Disconnecting allowed me to enjoy time with the people I want to spend time with and it gave me the opportunity to step away from work. I’m also fortunate that I love my job a lot and it doesn’t feel like work most of the time. That being said, I think that taking advantage of vacation time as much as you can and stepping away is a really healthy thing to do and something entry level folks should be mindful about.

–Maverick Cummings