How Can Families Prevent Back-to-School Burnout?
Dr. Ariel Dalfen joined Global News The Morning Show to talk about back-to-school burnout and shares pro tips for helping parents and students manage the stress and anxiety that can come with this transition. Watch the full interview here: https://globalnews.ca/video/12045243/the-morning-show-sept-2
Here are the key takeaways:
Back-to-school burnout occurs when students and parents experience physical and emotional exhaustion driven by rapid schedule shifts, academic pressures, and sudden routine changes.
To prevent early-semester overwhelm for both parents and students, consider these core strategies:
- Re-establish Schedules Early: Shift sleep and wake times by 15–30 minutes every few days to avoid systemic sleep deprivation during the first week.
- Buffer the Downtime: Avoid filling every post-school hour with extra-curricular activities right away. Allow kids 30–60 minutes of unstructured downtime after returning home.
- Open Emotional Check-Ins: Ask targeted questions like "What was the most relaxing part of your day?" rather than broad queries like "How was school?" to lower anxiety levels.
