How to Help Your Child Avoid Burnout in School

The crisp autumn air, the smell of new notebooks, and the promise of fresh beginnings: The back-to-school season is upon us. While it can be an exciting time full of learning, for children with ADHD, the transition can be a delicate balancing act. The constant demands of school can lead to a hidden threat: ADHD burnout.

Unlike the typical exhaustion of a long day, ADHD burnout goes deeper. ADHD burnout is a state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion caused by the constant effort required to manage one’s ADHD symptoms in a structured environment. Children with ADHD often have challenges with Executive Function, the cognitive skills that help them plan, organize, manage time, and maintain focus. This constant effort to overcome these Executive Function deficits can deplete their energy reserves, leading to a sense of overwhelming burnout. 

Understanding the symptoms of ADHD burnout

Just like a drained battery, a child experiencing ADHD burnout is running low on energy. Here are some key warning signs to watch out for:

• Loss of motivation — Once-enthusiastic students may become apathetic about schoolwork and activities they used to enjoy. Hobbies that once brought joy can now seem overwhelming. Completing homework or participating in class discussions feels like a daunting task due to difficulties with planning, prioritizing, and initiating tasks. 
• Exhaustion — No matter how many hours of sleep they get, children experiencing ADHD burnout can feel constantly tired. The effort to manage their ADHD symptoms and compensate for Executive Function challenges leaves them with little energy for anything else. 
• Poor performance — Grades can decline due to difficulty focusing, completing tasks on time, or remembering information. Even with extra effort, schoolwork can feel like moving through mud due to challenges with organization and time management.
• Increased irritability — Frustration builds, leading to more frequent outbursts or arguments with parents, teachers, and friends. The constant internal struggle to manage their symptoms and compensate for Executive Function deficits can take a toll on their emotional well-being. 
• Social withdrawal — Children experiencing ADHD burnout may withdraw from friends and activities. The social demands of school become overwhelming, and they may prefer to isolate themselves due to difficulties with planning social interactions and managing their time effectively.
• Physical symptoms — Headaches, stomachaches, and sleep problems can become worse as the stress of their ADHD burnout takes a toll on their physical health.

Preventing burnout with Executive Function strategies

The good news is that ADHD burnout is preventable. By working collaboratively with teachers, healthcare professionals, and your child themselves, you can create a supportive system that helps your child navigate the school year and thrive. Here are some key strategies to consider, with a particular focus on helping to strengthen their Executive Function skills:

• Open communication — Talk openly and honestly with your child about ADHD, burnout, and Executive Function challenges. Let them know they’re not alone and that their challenges are understood. Encourage them to express their frustrations and difficulties. The power of feeling heard and supported can significantly boost their well-being. 
• Collaboration with school — Work with their teachers to implement accommodations in the classroom that reduce the demands and create a more supportive environment. These could include:
• Executive Function coaching — Schools may have specialists or programs designed to help students with Executive Function challenges. 
• Visual aids and checklists — Break down assignments into smaller steps using planners, checklists, and visual aids like charts or timelines, which can help with planning, organization, and task initiation. 
• Time management strategies — Develop time management strategies together, such as using timers or creating a daily schedule, to ensure that your child allocates appropriate time for different activities.
• Minimize distractions — Provide a quiet workspace for homework with minimal distractions to help them focus and maintain attention. 
• Healthy routines — Establish consistent sleep schedules, balanced meals, and regular exercise to help them manage energy levels and overall well-being. A predictable routine provides a sense of stability and helps children with ADHD anticipate transitions throughout the day.
• Positive reinforcement — Celebrate even small victories, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Applaud their efforts to use planning tools, manage their time effectively, or complete tasks on their schedule. Positive reinforcement helps to build confidence and encourages them to continue using helpful strategies.

Additional tips that can help your child with ADHD burnout:

• Embrace their strengths — Children with ADHD possess unique strengths, such as creativity, problem-solving abilities, or exceptional energy. Help them identify and nurture their strengths. This can help them foster a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. 
• Focus on progress, not perfection — There will likely be setbacks along the way. Celebrate their progress, no matter how small, rather than focusing on achieving perfection.
• Take care of yourself — Parenting a child with ADHD can be demanding. Don’t neglect your own well-being; try to schedule time for your own self-care activities so you can effectively manage your stress and recharge. 
• Build independence — While support is crucial, you also want to help your child become independent. Encourage them to self-advocate for their needs in the classroom and develop self-management skills related to Executive Function. 

Your child is not their ADHD diagnosis — ADHD is a part of who they are, but it doesn’t define them. By recognizing the signs of burnout and implementing supportive strategies that target Executive Function challenges, you can help your child navigate the school year and reach their full academic potential. 

Beyond BookSmart can help you set your child up to avoid ADHD burnout and thrive this school year

Every student has the ability to become the best version of themselves by improving their Executive Function skills, such as emotional regulation, organization, and time management. All of these skills are coachable, trainable, and can be applied for success. They can contribute to an effective study routine that leads to greater academic and personal achievements. 

At Beyond BookSmart, we help students improve these important, lifelong skills through our Executive Function coaching services. We also know that every child has unique strengths and challenges. That’s why we customize our coaching sessions for each student’s individual needs, learning differences, and emotional patterns.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an inquiry call.