Protecting Your Wellbeing as a Student Adviser: Boundaries, Self-Care, and Support

Working as a Student Adviser in a Students' Union is one of the most rewarding roles in higher education. Every day, advisers help students through academic, financial, housing, and personal challenges, making a real difference in their lives. However, the demands of this role can take a toll if boundaries are not set, and self-care is neglected. The constant pressure to support students, respond to complaints, and manage complex caseloads can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue.?

In this article, we’ll explore practical strategies to help Student Advisers protect their mental health, set boundaries with students and colleagues, and avoid burnout.?

Setting Boundaries: Protecting Your Time and Energy

As an adviser, you are likely to experience pressure from various sources—students, senior managers, and even colleagues within the SU. It’s essential to set clear, firm boundaries that allow you to provide high-quality support without overextending yourself. Boundaries not only protect your wellbeing, but they also enhance your effectiveness, allowing you to be fully present for the students you’re supporting.

Let’s explore two common scenarios where boundaries can help protect your time and energy.

Scenario 1: Complaints Escalated to Senior Staff

It’s not uncommon for students, frustrated with their situation, to escalate complaints to senior managers or SU officers. They may claim that their adviser hasn’t responded quickly enough, even when you are well within the agreed service standards. In these cases, it’s crucial to maintain your professional boundaries and avoid taking on additional stress unnecessarily.

Here’s where boundary-setting and support from senior staff are essential. Senior managers and officers need to understand the pressures on advisers and trust that the workload and response times are being managed appropriately. When complaints reach management, it's important for them to avoid forwarding emails or escalating issues without first understanding the context.

Advice for Senior Managers and Officers:

Support, don’t pressure: Instead of forwarding complaints and adding pressure, remind the student that the advice service operates within set standards and that their case is being handled within those timelines.

Trust your team: Recognise that advisers are managing a high volume of complex cases and may already be working at capacity. Encourage open communication within the advice service team before taking any further action on complaints.

Suggested response from an adviser to senior management:

“I appreciate your concern and I am aware of the case. I’ve been in contact with the student within our service standards. If there’s a way we can collectively communicate this process more clearly to students, I’d be happy to help with that.”

By establishing and communicating these boundaries, advisers can maintain control over their workload and protect themselves from unnecessary stress.

Scenario 2: Students Adding Advisers on Social Media

Another common issue advisers face is students crossing boundaries by contacting them on social media platforms such as LinkedIn. It can be difficult to maintain a professional separation when students use direct messages to discuss their cases outside of official channels. This blurring of personal and professional boundaries can make it hard for advisers to fully disconnect from work, leading to burnout.

Establishing a clear no-social-media policy for student communications can help advisers protect their privacy and ensure that all queries are handled through appropriate, confidential channels.

Suggested response from an adviser to a student contacting them on social media:

“Thank you for reaching out, but I handle all student queries through official channels to ensure confidentiality and professional support. Please send any information or questions through the advice service email, and I’ll respond as soon as possible.”

Maintaining these boundaries helps advisers switch off from work during their personal time, reducing the risk of burnout.

Self-Care: Prioritising Your Wellbeing

Supporting students through personal crises and stressful situations can lead to compassion fatigue, a state of physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to the stress of others. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when students are constantly seeking help, particularly if their stories and challenges weigh heavily on your emotions. That’s why practising self-care daily, even on your busiest days, is critical for protecting your mental health and preventing burnout.

Tips for Self-Care as a Student Adviser:

Take scheduled breaks: Block time in your calendar for short breaks between advising sessions. Even five minutes to step away from your desk, stretch, or take a walk can reset your mind and help prevent emotional exhaustion.

Debrief regularly: After handling particularly challenging or emotionally charged cases, it’s helpful to check in with a colleague or supervisor. Debriefing provides an opportunity to process the emotional weight of the situation, share concerns, and receive support from peers.

Set limits on emotional involvement: While empathy is a key part of your role as an adviser, it’s important to recognise that you can’t solve every problem. Don’t let students’ struggles overwhelm you. There are limits to the support you can provide, and it’s okay to refer students to other services or external resources when necessary.?

Example: If a student’s personal situation begins to affect your emotional wellbeing, reach out to your manager or team for guidance. Sharing the emotional load with your colleagues can help alleviate some of the pressure and prevent burnout.

“But my organisation won’t give me the space or time to practice self-care…”

It’s easy to assume that employers should be solely responsible for our wellbeing at work, but the reality is more nuanced. As a Student Adviser, you are the only person who truly understands the full weight of your workload, emotional demands, and need for self-care. If you find yourself feeling unable to take quick breaks or set boundaries, it's essential to speak up and manage upwards. This means articulating your needs clearly to your manager, ensuring they understand the strain you're under, and that they are able to communicate and manage this upwards as well.

At the end of the day, employers are run by people - people who, like you, are likely juggling multiple pressures. They may not always see the full picture of your challenges unless you communicate it. If, after speaking up, you still find that your concerns aren’t being heard or addressed, it might indicate a cultural misalignment. While that can be tough to realise, it's also an opportunity to assess whether the organisation is the right fit for you and your long-term wellbeing. It’s about finding a culture that supports you, but also recognising your role in advocating for yourself.

Avoiding Burnout: Managing Workload and Compassion Fatigue

Burnout is a significant risk for Student Advisers, especially when the demands of the role become overwhelming. Long hours, complex cases, and the constant pressure to support students effectively can lead to exhaustion, detachment, and reduced professional efficacy. The key to avoiding burnout is recognising the early warning signs and taking proactive steps to manage your workload and emotional health.

Strategies for Managing Workload:?

Delegate where possible: If your caseload becomes too heavy, speak to your manager about redistributing tasks or temporarily reducing your workload. It’s important to flag when you’re struggling, rather than pushing yourself to the brink of burnout.

Use case management systems effectively: Keeping thorough, organised records not only helps you stay on top of cases but also prevents stress by ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. A well-managed system can significantly reduce administrative burden and improve your ability to handle complex cases efficiently.

Recognising the Signs of Compassion Fatigue:

Emotional exhaustion: Do you feel emotionally drained after each case?

Reduced empathy: Are you finding it harder to care about students’ issues in the same way you used to?

Detachment: Have you started feeling disconnected from your work or emotionally numb?

If you recognise any of these symptoms, it’s time to take action—whether that’s reducing your caseload, taking time off to recover, or seeking professional support. Remember, you need to be in good shape to help others effectively.

Boundaries with Team Members: Support, Not Pressure

Student Advisers are part of a wider team, including senior managers, sabbatical officers, and other SU staff. For this dynamic to work effectively, it’s crucial that team members support advisers by respecting their boundaries and workloads, rather than adding pressure or contributing to their stress.

How Senior Managers and Officers Can Support Advisers:

Acknowledge their workload: Senior managers should regularly check in with advisers to assess their workload and emotional health. Instead of forwarding complaints or requests directly to advisers, managers should act as buffers, ensuring that advisers are not overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations.

Empower advisers to say no: Advisers should feel confident in declining additional tasks when their workload is already full, and senior management should back them up on this. Setting clear boundaries with management ensures that advisers are not pushed beyond their capacity.?

Suggested message from an adviser to senior management:

“I’ve got a lot on my plate at the moment and want to make sure I’m giving students my full attention. Would it be possible to reassign this task or set a later deadline?”

This clear communication ensures that workloads are manageable and allows advisers to prioritise the most urgent cases without compromising their wellbeing.

Taking Ownership of Your Wellbeing: Balancing Employer Responsibility and Personal Accountability

While it’s the employer’s responsibility to foster a supportive work environment, employees also play a critical role in managing their own stress levels and preventing burnout.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is defined as:

“a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”?

This definition highlights two key factors—chronic stress and the inability to manage it effectively. Burnout is not simply the result of working long hours; it occurs when there is a sustained imbalance between the demands placed on an individual and the resources available to cope with those demands.

Burnout is more than just feeling tired after a busy week—it’s a prolonged state of emotional, mental, and physical depletion. Both employers and employees share responsibility for addressing this.?

Employer Responsibility: Building a Supportive Culture

Employers play a crucial role in preventing burnout by fostering a work culture that values wellbeing and encourages open communication. Here are a few ways employers can help:?

Provide clear expectations: Ambiguity around roles and responsibilities can contribute to stress. Staff should understand their boundaries, tasks, and how to manage their workload without feeling overwhelmed.

Promote work-life balance: Organisations should foster a culture where employees feel empowered to set boundaries around their time, take breaks, and use their leave without guilt.

Offer mental health resources: Regular check-ins and debriefs, employers should provide resources to help advisers manage the emotional weight of their roles.?

Personal Accountability: Owning Your Wellbeing

While employers provide the framework, individuals must take ownership of their mental health. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight—it’s the result of prolonged, unmanaged stress.

Here’s how employees can be proactive in managing their own wellbeing:

Recognise the signs of burnout early: If you notice emotional exhaustion, reduced efficacy, or detachment, take action by speaking to your manager, redistributing your workload, or taking time off.

Communicate your needs: Don’t assume your employer expects you to overwork. Most organisations want their employees to thrive. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, communicate clearly and provide potential solutions to address the issue.

Set personal boundaries: Even in a supportive work environment, it’s up to you to set and maintain boundaries. Take regular breaks, avoid checking emails outside work hours, and use your leave to recharge.

Final Thoughts: Looking After Yourself to Help Others

?Being a Student Adviser is a deeply rewarding role, but it comes with the risk of burnout. Protecting your wellbeing through setting boundaries, practising self-care, and managing your workload is essential to maintaining your effectiveness. Both senior managers and colleagues have a role to play in supporting you, but it starts with taking responsibility for your own mental health.

Remember, it’s not selfish to look after yourself—it’s the only way to continue helping those who rely on your support. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to ask for help or take time to recover. You don’t have to do it all alone.