Talking Burnout with Hari — Lessons from Student Leadership
This week we sat down with Hari to talk about burnout, his time as a student, and his experience with MiTSA.
Burnout isn’t just “too many essays” — it’s when your emotional, physical, and mental reserves run dry from ongoing stress. In the university world, burnout looks like hitting a wall: losing interest in things you once loved, finding it hard to sleep, and dragging through assignments that used to energise you. While exact percentages vary, many students report feeling stressed weekly or more (about 72% in an Australia/NZ survey) Youth Insight. The causes go deeper than workload: misaligned values, lack of recognition, weak peer support, unfair systems, and feeling powerless all play a part. Recovery isn’t just doing more “self-care” — it’s changing what’s draining you. And leaning into engagement — doing things that reflect your values and spark discovery — can help rebuild warmth, energy, and meaning in your studies.
Spotting the Early Signs
When asked what first sign told him burnout was creeping in, Hari said he was “feeling drained all the time, sleeping poorly, and losing enjoyment in things.
The more hours I put in, the less I felt I was achieving.
Even planning another MiTSA meeting — something that once energised him — started to feel heavy. Despite working harder than ever as VP, I felt like I wasn't being effective. My focus on my studies was slipping, and I felt I was failing both at MiTSA and in my degree. The more hours I put in, the less I felt I was achieving.
He realised things weren’t sustainable when he began losing passion for both MiTSA and his studies.
The Causes Behind It
Hari says the biggest factor was taking on too much: juggling multiple commitments, leadership duties, and involvement with a soccer club.
“It felt like I was balancing too much,” he reflected.
Being in a leadership role brought extra weight. “It was my first time in leadership — the expectations became a lot. You’re responsible for others, but sometimes there’s no one supporting you.”
He believes burnout can happen to anyone, but it tends to hit leaders harder because of that imbalance between giving and receiving support.
He’s also learned the power of saying no. “Time is a valuable resource,” he said. “Now I plan in a more organised manner.”
Finding Balance Again
Recognising the early signs helped Hari course-correct before things worsened.
His recovery included regular exercise, auditing commitments, time-blocking his schedule, and redefining what success meant to him.
Balance, he says, now comes from structure: “Through scheduling I created balance and could see my time commitments more easily.”
He’s also learned the power of saying no. “Time is a valuable resource,” he said. “Now I plan in a more organised manner.”
Supporting Each Other
Hari urges those nearing burnout to stay alert to the early signs and pause to reassess their commitments. For teams and communities, his advice is straightforward: give people space, lighten their load, and allow rest. As an example, he shifted from Vice-President to Director of Memberships — still in a leadership role, but one that gave him more breathing room to balance his obligations.
Growth After Burnout
Give people space, lighten their load, and allow rest.
When asked if burnout can lead to positive change, Hari didn’t hesitate.
“It can — you learn a lot,” he said.
His takeaways? Laser focus, better scheduling, and understanding the importance of limits.
Burnout isn’t failure — it’s feedback.
Hari’s story reminds us that balance isn’t a destination you arrive at once; it’s something you build, day by day, choice by choice. If something’s weighing you down, reach out — talk to your leader, connect with a peer — don’t carry anxiety alone.
Hari talks on the podcast “Take Note” about his experience with Burnout being released October 17th and you can find the link through Apple or Spotify here:
