Digital learning was supposed to be a game-changer. It promised freedom, flexibility, and the chance to learn on your own terms. But somewhere along the way, things got messy.
Instead of feeling empowered, many students feel trapped—chained to their laptops, bombarded with notifications, and constantly expected to stay productive. The line between learning and living has blurred. And the result? Burnout. A lot of it.
A 2025 study published in BMC Public Health puts this quiet crisis into perspective. It confirms what students have been saying for a while: that being “always on” and “always learning” is taking a serious toll.
Burnout is the default stateAs per the data in BMC Public Health report, academic burnout has jumped from just 7.4% in 2017 to nearly 60% in 2023. That’s more than half of all students dealing with exhaustion, disconnection, and the feeling that they’re falling short—even when they’re doing everything they can.
And this isn’t just regular tiredness. We’re talking about deep, draining fatigue. The kind that doesn’t go away after one good night’s sleep. It’s about losing the motivation to care, even when you used to love what you were learning.
With hybrid classes, online tests, and the pressure to upskill 24/7, students don’t feel like school ends when class does. It’s like school is everywhere, all the time.
Logged in and tiredOne of the most striking things the study shows is how internet overuse is directly linked to burnout. But it’s not just about doom-scrolling Instagram. It’s about bouncing between Zoom classes, YouTube tutorials, coding bootcamps, and job applications—without ever truly logging off.
The pressure to be “productive” online never lets up. You’re always flipping tabs, chasing deadlines, or trying to learn something new. And even when you’re not studying, you’re thinking about what you should be doing next.
This nonstop engagement slowly wears you down. The stress builds up. Focus disappears. And you don’t even realize how tired you are until it’s too late.
Not learning, just surviving Students today aren't just trying to learn. They’re trying to keep up with everyone all the time.
Certificates. Internships. Coding skills. Portfolio projects. A polished LinkedIn profile. You’re not doing these things because you’re passionate—you’re doing them because you have to. Because if you don’t, someone else will. And that someone might land the opportunity you were hoping for.
The study calls this a “resource depletion spiral.” You run out of time, focus, and emotional energy. You cross things off your to-do list, but they don’t feel like wins anymore. It just feels like you’re ticking off tasks—but nothing ever feels like it’s truly enough.
Why students feel bad for taking a breakAsk any student how much they sleep, and you’ll probably get a laugh. Late-night study sessions, early morning deadlines, or just the pressure to be constantly “on” means sleep is often the first thing sacrificed.
And when they do rest, many students say they feel guilty—like they’re falling behind. Especially when everyone around them seems to be doing more, faster, and better. It’s a brutal cycle.
What can be done?Here’s the good news: the BMC public health study doesn’t just name the problem—it offers solutions.
Schools and colleges can start by building better support systems. That means mental health check-ins, digital detox programs, and courses that focus on meaningful learning, not just endless output.
Educators can help too—by designing assignments that value depth over speed, and encouraging students to take breaks without feeling like they’re slacking.
But most of all, we need a cultural shift. Right now, students are praised for being busy, not for being well. That has to change.
Technology has made learning easier to access—but it’s also made it harder to escape. If students are constantly learning, working, and upskilling just to keep their heads above water, we need to ask: What are we really preparing them for?
Burnout shouldn’t be the price of ambition. And success shouldn’t come at the cost of mental health.
The fix isn’t to ditch digital learning—it’s to create space for students to breathe within it. Because if nearly 60% of students are burning out just to stay in the game, the game needs to change.
Instead of feeling empowered, many students feel trapped—chained to their laptops, bombarded with notifications, and constantly expected to stay productive. The line between learning and living has blurred. And the result? Burnout. A lot of it.
A 2025 study published in BMC Public Health puts this quiet crisis into perspective. It confirms what students have been saying for a while: that being “always on” and “always learning” is taking a serious toll.
Burnout is the default stateAs per the data in BMC Public Health report, academic burnout has jumped from just 7.4% in 2017 to nearly 60% in 2023. That’s more than half of all students dealing with exhaustion, disconnection, and the feeling that they’re falling short—even when they’re doing everything they can.
And this isn’t just regular tiredness. We’re talking about deep, draining fatigue. The kind that doesn’t go away after one good night’s sleep. It’s about losing the motivation to care, even when you used to love what you were learning.
With hybrid classes, online tests, and the pressure to upskill 24/7, students don’t feel like school ends when class does. It’s like school is everywhere, all the time.
Logged in and tiredOne of the most striking things the study shows is how internet overuse is directly linked to burnout. But it’s not just about doom-scrolling Instagram. It’s about bouncing between Zoom classes, YouTube tutorials, coding bootcamps, and job applications—without ever truly logging off.
The pressure to be “productive” online never lets up. You’re always flipping tabs, chasing deadlines, or trying to learn something new. And even when you’re not studying, you’re thinking about what you should be doing next.
This nonstop engagement slowly wears you down. The stress builds up. Focus disappears. And you don’t even realize how tired you are until it’s too late.
Not learning, just surviving Students today aren't just trying to learn. They’re trying to keep up with everyone all the time.
Certificates. Internships. Coding skills. Portfolio projects. A polished LinkedIn profile. You’re not doing these things because you’re passionate—you’re doing them because you have to. Because if you don’t, someone else will. And that someone might land the opportunity you were hoping for.
The study calls this a “resource depletion spiral.” You run out of time, focus, and emotional energy. You cross things off your to-do list, but they don’t feel like wins anymore. It just feels like you’re ticking off tasks—but nothing ever feels like it’s truly enough.
Why students feel bad for taking a breakAsk any student how much they sleep, and you’ll probably get a laugh. Late-night study sessions, early morning deadlines, or just the pressure to be constantly “on” means sleep is often the first thing sacrificed.
And when they do rest, many students say they feel guilty—like they’re falling behind. Especially when everyone around them seems to be doing more, faster, and better. It’s a brutal cycle.
What can be done?Here’s the good news: the BMC public health study doesn’t just name the problem—it offers solutions.
Schools and colleges can start by building better support systems. That means mental health check-ins, digital detox programs, and courses that focus on meaningful learning, not just endless output.
Educators can help too—by designing assignments that value depth over speed, and encouraging students to take breaks without feeling like they’re slacking.
But most of all, we need a cultural shift. Right now, students are praised for being busy, not for being well. That has to change.
Technology has made learning easier to access—but it’s also made it harder to escape. If students are constantly learning, working, and upskilling just to keep their heads above water, we need to ask: What are we really preparing them for?
Burnout shouldn’t be the price of ambition. And success shouldn’t come at the cost of mental health.
The fix isn’t to ditch digital learning—it’s to create space for students to breathe within it. Because if nearly 60% of students are burning out just to stay in the game, the game needs to change.
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