Burnout can happen to anyone, at any age especially when they are overexerting themselves. Although it looks different for an individual, it leaves everyone exhausted and drained. Are you starting to procrastinate, skipping classes, or studying? What about a change in your creativity or social interactions? Identifying specific life stresses can help prevent or lessen the effects of burnout. Avoiding academic burnout is possible when you have the knowledge and resources to help. Here’s some tips on how to avoid burnout.
- Dedicate one day of no work or school. This day is for you to relax and reset before jumping back into the game. Have fun during this time. It helps create a balance.
- Self-Care is important. This can range from sleeping, eating and exercising. If you’re not feeding your body properly or even getting enough sleep, how do you expect to function and retain the information you are learning? Take mini breaks and go for a walk
- Setting boundaries and saying no. Missing out on one event won’t be the end of the world. Your friends and even family will ask for your time, but it may be the time you chose to study or do homework. It is going to push you to the limit, and it will more than likely sound like fun, but you must stand firm and say no
- Stay organized. Stay on top of assignment due dates and give yourself more than 48 hours to complete it. Things come up all the time so be realistic and give yourself some grace. Prepare beforehand. Create weekly to do list or daily. Color code if necessary.
- Set Goals- Create achievable goals to accomplish. That can be a mixture of academic and daily household chores. Set a limit between 3 and 5. Take your time.
- Celebrate your accomplishments- after a big exam or project celebrate your accomplishments. After a busy week, you may want to indulge in a night off to have fun and let go.
- Learning your limits- recognizing when you’re drained or pushed to the limit. When you’re emotionally unavailable and forcing yourself to comprehend, take a step back. Knowing when you have the momentum to keep going
- Asking for help- Everyone can use some advice or guidance. Instead of furthering your struggle alone ask for help from a trusted friend, professor or any peer mentors on campus. Create study groups, attend resource information seminars, go to events targeting your triggers or stressors.
If you feel like you’re experiencing or want to prevent academic burnout, come, make an appointment with a peer mentor. We’re here to help and it’s never too late to start a new healthy habit.
