COVID-19 Burnout Hits the Marist Community

Anna Hagenbunch ‘23 follows Covid-19 protocols while focusing on her biology studies. Credit: Maddi Langweil

While some may be withdrawing from Covid-19 symptoms, others are withdrawing from the pandemic entirely. Why? People are experiencing Covid-19 burnout. 

Feelings of exhaustion, stress and a lack of vigilance to pandemic regulations are linked to Covid-19 burnout. These feelings are completely normal, which the World Health Organization (WHO) defines as a sense of “demotivation.” 

An Ohio State University survey found that 71% of college students were experiencing Covid-19 burnout one year into the pandemic that has led to increased amounts of anxiety, depression and fatigue.

In the beginning of the pandemic, this new and scary virus spread like wildfire that kept everyone worried and alert. People would quickly access all the information they could, wear the proper protection and remain on guard as a survival response. Now, these short-term physical and mental responses are fizzling out just like the care for the still omnipresent virus. 

“I remember seeing people wear gloves, goggles and masks when entering the grocery store,” Marist Alumnus Griffin Simonds ‘20 said. “Today, I comply with covid safety measures, but I’m over it.” 

Even though Simonds graduated right at the peak of Covid-19, his feelings and thoughts are like those still attending Marist College. Daily, Anna Hagenbuch ‘23 seems to be overstimulated and struggles to keep up with life as the pandemic hits the two-year mark. 

“To me, covid burnout initially looked like sitting at home with nothing to do but looking at electronics,” she said. “Now covid burnout is overdoing and overwhelming yourself with all the opportunities that you have available.”

Academically, Hagenbuch feels she is a different student today than nearly two years ago. 

“The world is much more polarized than before the pandemic that has forced me to learn to teach myself,” she said. “I’ve become more of an independent learner.”

While independence may be a keen skill to obtain in college, it has its faults. Marist rowing athlete Caroline Voorhis ‘23 has had a harder time finding her purpose in the athletic and academic world.

“Athletically, I have never had a full spring season and I am a junior; this is going to be my first spring season. There was a portion of time last year where we did workouts constantly with no indication of being able to race again,” she said. “I lost purpose.” 

Voorhis claims she is the worst student she has ever been in her life and used to be more self-starting. She continuously asks herself the question: “What am I doing this for?” 

Slowly emerging from these melancholic feelings, she is looking forward to her Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) competition in the coming weeks. “Now I see a light at the end of the tunnel,” the athlete said. 

As Covid-19 made an impact on students’ learning, it also altered the way many professors teach. Dr. Kristin Dragos, Biology Professor at Marist, explains how there was an adjustment to the way she taught, but her motivation to teach and perform her job well has remained unchanged throughout. 

Dr. Dragos may not feel as much Covid burnout, but Communications Professor Brian Cronin has never worked harder as a journalist and professor. 

“Different professions are experiencing different pressures that are changing how people view themselves in the world,” Cronin said. Always in constant motion, Cronin says how now there is always this “ambient stress” he may not always be aware of. He continuously reminds himself to take on less than what comes his way. 

 “You can’t do as much as you think you can,” said Cronin.