By the time August hits, summer can start to feel a little heavy.
What was once a welcome pause from school routines turns into something slower, quieter… and sometimes, a little too quiet. Maybe your teen has started sleeping in later than usual. Maybe they’re canceling plans with friends or spending most of the day in their room. Maybe you’re sensing it, that feeling that something’s just off.
You’re not alone in wondering: What’s going on with them?
Teens Burn Out, Too
We often think of burnout as something that happens to adults juggling work deadlines or parenting fatigue. But teens burn out also and it doesn’t always look like what you’d expect.
It can look like:
- A teen who’s short-tempered or snappy
- One who’s unusually quiet or flat
- A kid who’s normally social suddenly avoiding group chats or hangouts
- A lack of motivation to do anything, even things they usually enjoy
- Extra screen time as a way to shut the world out
Sometimes, what looks like laziness is really exhaustion. Or anxiety. Or overwhelm that’s been building over the summer without any clear release.
Why August Hits Differently
Late summer holds an odd emotional tension: part nostalgia, part anticipation, part dread. For teens, it can bring up a lot, some of it unspoken:
- Regret over things they didn’t do
- Worry about what’s coming
- Stress about social situations, body image, or school expectations
- A deep need for rest that they don’t always know how to name
Even if they’re not saying it, they might be carrying a lot right now.
What Your Teen Might Really Need Right Now
They might not need a pep talk.They might not need a new planner or to “get back on track.”
They might just need:
- A slower morning
- A little extra patience
- A moment of connection without a lesson attached
- A reminder that it’s okay not to feel okay
Sometimes, the best support we can offer is presence. A gentle check-in. A “hey, I’ve noticed you seem a little worn down lately, want to talk or go for a drive?”
When a Break Isn’t Enough
For some teens, late-summer heaviness lifts as the school year begins and routine returns. But for others, it lingers or grows.
If you’re noticing signs that your teen is stuck in more than just a slump; things like deep sadness, panic, hopelessness, or isolation, it might be time for extra support.
In my work with teens and families here in Minneapolis, I often help teens navigate this in-between space: not in crisis, but not quite okay either. We explore what’s under the surface, give language to what feels confusing or overwhelming, and begin to rebuild trust with themselves, with others, and with life feeling manageable again.
That might look like:
- Individual therapy to work through emotions and learn new tools
- Group therapy to feel less alone and build confidence in relationships
- Family therapy to improve communication and repair disconnection
And sometimes it just starts with a conversation.
A Gentle Reminder (For You and Your Teen)
Burnout doesn’t mean something’s broken. It often just means: this has been a lot and that’s okay.
Late summer isn’t just about gearing up for school. It’s also a chance to slow down and listen to yourself, to your teen, and to what this moment is asking for.
You don’t need to have all the answers. Just showing up, with compassion and curiosity goes a long way.