Coping with Premature Burnout

 

Ministry of HRD, Government of India is concerned about the rise in suicidal tendencies in students of elite institutions. 22 suicides in six years in one of the oldest premier technical institutes of this country is a grim pointer that all is not well. And this is just an example. There are more cases. Can we call this a case of premature burnout? In the absence of any appropriate nomenclature, yes.

Usually burnout is expectedin adults who have multiple responsibilities to shoulder and many roles to play at the same time. Such situations are not expected in students studying to build a career. Naturally, it is the excessive competitive streak that is taking its toll. If something is not done in the right earnest urgently things may take a nasty turn. Our so called demographic advantage may not be there after all.

India is on the verge of a youth revolution of sorts given the overwhelmingly large young population that the country has today. But is that enough? Can it be translated to competitive advantage without any further efforts? Perhaps not. We need to find out how to convert this into demographic dividends

Undoubtedly, this segment has tremendous potential. This is the reason why all political parties today are courting the youth and proclaiming to be championing their cause. Young and old leaders alike are addressing to the youth. It was about this youth that Rabindra Nath Tagore had once said, “age considers, youth ventures”. But this venturing youth needs to be given a direction and should be enabled to give India the competitive advantage that we are desirous of acquiring.

The youth have the desire, the energy and the courage to take to the streets for improving their country and their lot. Today they have assumed considerable significance for governments and the policy makers. They have occupied centre stage in policy formulation. But there is need to ponder to find out whether this youth is venturing in the right direction or just adventuring. And what needs to be done.

The first requirement is to bring those young people closer to the real world. There obsession with the virtual reality has cut them off from the reality. The pressure to compete, win, survive and thrive has driven them into a ghetto of their own making. They must desire to win but certainly be ready to lose also. The youth are impatient and in a hurry. They must be tempered to accept that life is a mixed bag. Looking for solution to everything in economics has made them too materialistic and their excessive practicality has made them impractical.

The answer has to be found in Psychology. To be more specific in attitude- the way they look at the world. The way they take life. The essence lies in two things- balance and simplicity. Balance is the core of Buddha’s philosophy, the middle path. And simplicity is Gurudev Ravindranath Tagore’s answer to the complexities of life. The young people need to reframe their idea of life. Life is not a struggle as they perceive. Life is not about competition only. It is to be lived. It is not also a series of outcomes. It is beyond competition. It is about fulfillment and self actualization.