Burnout has become a major buzzword recently, and as students, it is something we are regularly confronted with. It can stem from a variety of reasons, such as having too much on your plate while trying to boost your resume for an increasingly competitive job market, or even from AI, where reliance can potentially lead to lower motivation. Whether you are feeling it yourself or constantly hearing about it, developing self-management can help you persevere.
Angela Duckworth defines grit as "a combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals." Although some people are naturally ‘grittier’ than others, it is a skill that anyone can learn and embody in their own life. By making an active effort to develop grit, you can feel more fulfilled in the long term and combat burnout in the short term.
Duckworth emphasizes that a key part of grit is the importance of “deliberate practice”. Doing challenging things that you are genuinely passionate about is essential to developing and sustaining grit. In contrast, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has found that many experts or highly skilled people experienced what he deemed to be “flow,” very similar to the recent Tik Tok trend of “reaching flow state.” This flow state describes how skilled individuals are able to perform at a high level with a sense of ease and enjoyment.
These two ideas are not mutually exclusive, developing a skill is never easy. Just because something comes naturally to some people, does not mean others cannot reach the same level, or that those with natural ability are exempt from practice and improvement. Duckworth also points out that to experience “flow”, you must first partake in that “deliberate practice.” In my first semesters of college, while I was taking mostly Gen eds and introductory classes, I was trying to be involved with as much outside of class as possible. I may have been coasting through my classes, but I felt increasingly burnt out and less motivated as the semester progressed. As opposed to now, as a junior, focusing on specific goals and difficult classes or tasks that I am passionate about has given me a greater sense of purpose.
Talent, intelligence and leadership are all traits that many people believe are predetermined. Grit shows us that these are skills that can be developed. Through self-management and self-knowledge, you can be more mindful about the activities you participate in, your level of effort, and how you approach leadership.
In the conclusion of her book Duckworth presents findings on a study where she surveyed people’s level of grit, along with their life satisfaction. She has repeatedly found that grittier people are more satisfied with their life, and that the two are positively correlated. So, if you’re feeling burnt out, or overwhelmed, try to first take a step back and reflect on what interests you. Find something that you are passionate about, then plan and develop habits that will help you accomplish or excel at it. Whether that is creating a routine for practices or finding your favorite way to study for a test, stick to what works.
When you exemplify leadership and develop it, you must first be able to thoughtfully approach your own behavior. Developing grit will not only benefit you but will also allow you to pass it onto others, further developing your own ability to lead.
Works Cited:
Duckworth, A. (2018). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Scribner.
Illinois Leadership Center. (n.d.). Libguides: Illinois leadership competencies: Personal/self: Self-management. Self-Management - Illinois Leadership Competencies: Personal/Self - LibGuides at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. https://guides.library.illinois.edu/leadership/personal/self-management
Liu, Y., Wu, S., Ruan, M., Chen, S., & Xie, X.-Y. (2025, May 13). Research: Gen Ai makes people more productive-and less motivated. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2025/05/research-gen-ai-makes-people-more-productive-and-less-motivated
