AvaEllis

In a culture that celebrates constant work, many students are caught at a crossroads of flow state and burnout. Flow state is a popular term used to describe deep focus and productivity while burnout is the cost of the constant mental demand and push to keep up with the schedules of social, academic and extracurricular activities. 

Flow state is a time when you are completely locked in on one task, and putting all your effort and attention into it. Freshman Rosalie Anderson said “when you are working on something and start getting everything perfectly in order.”

The flow state is a commonly known feeling with 94% of the 186 January Network survey responders answering they have been in a flow state before, while working on homework, tests or projects. 

For many students, being in this state feels like a reward and somewhat energizing, but for some students, like senior Casteria Agbeletey, they feel an obligation to stay working. Agbeletey said, “when I reach a flow state, I don’t take a break till I start to feel exhausted after hours of notes.” 

Similarly, junior Emily McLain says “I know I should go to bed, but the flow state makes it difficult to stop.” 

Students are finding themselves in a difficult situation trying to balance staying in the flow while also using their time to complete necessary tasks and basic needs. 

Burnout is significantly less energizing. McLain describes it as “getting sick or being super exhausted from everything.” 

Freshman Jensyn Broz explains burn out as feeling “so exhausted that I don’t want to get up, move, or socialize for hours upon hours.”

 In the latest Network survey 97% of the 188 responders said that they have felt burnt out before. Broz explains that “a long week of school that is packed with endless homework or not getting enough sleep for a long period of time leads me to a burn out.” 

Rather than opposites, being in a flow state and being burnt out can be part of the same cycle. 

Flow state can be beneficial but only in small increments before creating a standard of perfect focus. Over time, the energy that had before been beneficial could become nonexistent and lead to burnout. 

Broz stated she felt as though “long periods of flow state could definitely make someone burn out.” 

McLain disagreed and said, “I don’t think you can be in a flow state and burn out at the same time.”

Both perspectives reflect the same narrative: flow state feels good while it lasts but without proper balance, it can quickly turn into burn out. It’s a paradox. The same focus that benefits a person can also be the leading factor of exhaustion.

This cycle of constant work and feeling drained is mirrored in society. Students are expected and encouraged to stay involved and still have good grades. 

While the drive can be a motivational force to work hard, it also normalizes a culture of overworking and pushing to the limit.

The frequency of burnout is not a sign of a failure of the individual person but only an indication of a culture creating a rhetoric of fast pace tasks. 

While focus and dedication are both significant traits in Marian students’ lives, too much of each has shown to lead students to a burn out. 

Keeping a balance between the two is a learned and life-long skill, and tipping the scale can come at a cost. Like all things, in regulation, hard work can lead to great places, but too much can lead you astray.