Let’s be real: Burnout isn’t a maybe—it’s a guarantee. If you work in higher education, you already know that burnout is part of the job. The emails never stop, the crises don’t schedule themselves at convenient times, and despite all the work we do, there’s always someone who thinks we aren’t doing enough.
I’ve been in higher ed since 2015. I started as a Residence Hall Manager and now serve as the Assistant Dean of Students/Director of the CARE Team and Student Support. Over the years, the work has gotten harder, the days longer, and the stakes higher. But here’s the thing—I’m also happier and more fulfilled than ever.
That’s because I’ve learned that burnout isn’t something you can avoid—it’s something you have to learn to manage. And if you do it right, burnout can actually teach you what needs to change—whether that’s in your workload, your mindset, or even your career path.
For a long time, I thought burnout meant I was doing something wrong. Maybe I wasn’t managing my time well enough, or I needed better self-care, or I just wasn’t cut out for this work.
But here’s the truth: Burnout isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a byproduct of caring.
Higher education, especially Residence Life, demands an endless amount of emotional labor. We’re supporting students through crises, advocating for systemic change, navigating institutional politics, and somehow still expected to show up with a smile.
So if you’re feeling exhausted, cynical, or like you’re running on fumes, it’s not just you. This work is built in a way that makes burnout inevitable. The question isn’t if you’ll experience it. The question is what you do when it happens.
Recognizing the Signs Before It’s Too Late
Burnout doesn’t hit all at once—it creeps in. And if you don’t catch it early, it’ll knock you flat before you even see it coming. Some of the things I recall experiencing that I consider warning signs include:
- You’re constantly tired, even after rest.
- Your patience is razor-thin. Little things irritate you more than they should. I now refer to this as “prickly”, because somehow it just makes the most sense.
- You start to resent the work. The passion that brought you here feels…gone.
- You feel disconnected from students, staff, colleagues, and at times, yourself.
- Everything feels like “just another task.” Even the things you used to love.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re already in burnout territory. And the longer you ignore it, the harder it’ll be to recover.
Reframing Burnout: What Is It Trying to Tell You?
Most advice on burnout is about preventing it—but what if we looked at it differently? Instead of treating burnout as something to fear, what if we saw it as a signal that something needs to change? Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s information. It’s your body and mind telling you:
- You’re overextended. Are you taking on too much?
- Your work isn’t aligning with your values. Do you still feel connected to your “why”?
- You need better boundaries. Are you always saying “yes” out of guilt?
- You need to evolve. Is it time for a shift in responsibilities, focus, or even career path?
When I stopped seeing burnout as a personal failure and started seeing it as a message from myself to myself, I realized I had more control than I thought.
How to Make Burnout Work for You
Burnout will happen. The trick is learning how to recover before you fully crash. A great place to start is begin to prioritize the right energy investments. Not everything (or everyone) deserves 100% of you. Some tasks need A+ effort, while others are fine with a solid B-. Learn to differentiate between what’s worth your full energy and what isn’t. Some questions to ask yourself:
- What actually moves the needle in my job?
- What am I doing just because it “looks good” or is expected?
- Where can I work smarter instead of harder?
Think about strategic rest versus a total collapse. Most people push through burnout until they completely break down. Instead of waiting for the inevitable crash, build in recovery time before you hit the wall. Some things that have worked for me: Taking micro-breaks. For one week, see if you notice a difference if you take 5 minutes between tasks to reset. Set no guilt boundaries. Remember, not everything is urgent—turn off the email notifications. Built in intentional planned recovery time. Rest isn’t a reward; it’s a necessity. Once of the things that I tell students I am supporting through CARE Team is academics are important, but health and mental health are prerequisites to that learning. The same can be said about our work. When burnout hits hard, don’t just “push through.” Use it as an opportunity to reevaluate and adjust.
- If you’re exhausted from constant student crises, consider this; Does your team need better delegation? Are you carrying too much emotional labor alone?
- If you’re feeling resentful of your role, ask yourself, is it time to advocate for new responsibilities or growth?
- If you’re losing passion for the work, do some meditation and remind yourself what originally excited you about this field. Can you reconnect with that purpose?
Some of the biggest changes in my career happened because of burnout. It pushed me to speak up, set better boundaries, and shift my focus when needed. Burnout recovery isn’t just about taking a vacation (though, let’s be honest, that helps). It’s about sustainable changes that prevent you from constantly hitting the burnout wall. Here are a few final thoughts for you. Set boundaries, without the guilt. Protect your personal time like it’s part of the job—because it is. Additionally, “no” is a complete sentence. Passive recovery (Netflix, scrolling) is fine, but active recovery (hobbies, movement, connection) actually recharges you. Schedule things that bring joy, not just distraction. Find your people—colleagues, mentors, friends who understand the work. Venting is good, but solutions-based support is better.
Final Thoughts: Burnout Isn’t the End—It’s a Sign to Evolve
I used to think burnout meant I wasn’t cut out for this field. Now, I see it differently. Burnout isn’t the end—it’s a checkpoint. It’s your mind and body telling you something needs to shift. The work will always be hard. The days will always be long. But if we learn how to manage burnout instead of ignoring it, we can stay in this work without losing ourselves in it. So the next time burnout creeps in, don’t just push through. Listen to it. Learn from it. Adjust. Because this work is important—but so are you.
