Burnout is inevitable as a student. Whether you’re struggling through your classes, juggling work and school, or are a student athlete, here are ten tips to help ease burnout symptoms as we head into the busy season of the student life cycle.
- Make Time for Personal Projects
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Spending time doing hobbies you enjoy just for fun is a great way to save your brain from brainrot while combating burnout. So scroll through Pinterest and find a craft to do, write a song, or play your favourite sport!
- Get Outside
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We love to downplay the positive effects of fresh air, but it is truly an amazing strategy for beating burnout. As spring is almost here, it’s the perfect time to get back outside and beat the winter blues. Having a picnic, going for a walk, maybe even taking some photos or painting scenery are all lovely ways to make the most of the outdoors.
- Declutter your Digital Spaces
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Digital clutter definitely creates some behind-the-scenes stress. Especially as a student, when your computer is littered with all kinds of files, it’s important to do a digital declutter from time to time. So spend ten minutes closing some tabs, organizing your desktop, or silencing non-essential notifications.
- Change Your Scenery
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If you’ve been going through the same schedule and visiting the same room, class, and library, this tip is for you. Finding a new coffee shop, a different campus study spot, or even just a different space in your home to spend time can help and act as a little mental reboot.
- Set a Stop Time
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Burnout can often be caused by your brain never getting a break from work. Set a specific time boundary for when you switch off from school or work (for example, 9 or 10 p.m.), when you shut down your laptop and focus on anything else. Setting clear boundaries works not just with people but with the school as well.
- Active Rest
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Lying in bed scrolling through TikToks and reels might seem like a break, but more often than not, it leaves your brain frazzled and overstimulated. Try active rest strategies instead! A ten-minute stretch, a quick guided meditation, or even a short nap can help recharge your mental battery rather than adding to stress.
- “The Power of Five”
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When your to-do list feels endless and intimidating, a strategy to alleviate that pressure is called the power of five! Tell yourself you only have to do five small tasks. For example, answering one email, putting away five pieces of laundry, reading five pages of your reading, etc., lowering the need to achieve a huge goal and starting small can help grow your momentum to complete all your tasks.
- Socialize Without a Final Goal in Mind
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Not every hangout needs to be productive. Change the hyperproductive narrative and meet a friend for coffee, but not to study and lock in. Go for a walk and make a pact not to talk about assignments, exams, or work. Making time for pure connection with friends and family can help you relax and build stronger bonds.
- Menu Planning
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Decision fatigue plays a huge role in burnout, and menu planning helps! Taking some small everyday decisions out of your week by planning meals, outfits, or even daily routines might help make decisions easier as you go. The fewer small daily decisions you have to make, the more time you can spend thinking about the bigger picture.
- Your Why
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This is philosophical (I know), but it’s really important to know why you’re doing what you’re doing. Take a moment to read an article about an industry leader you admire, chat with a professor, a mentor or a classmate, or watch a vlog of someone in your dream role. Reminding yourself of the end goal and your passion can help turn activities and to-dos back into choices rather than chores.
- (BONUS) Getting Help If Needed
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At the end of the day, I do not have a degree in burnout or scientific strategies, so if you find yourself really struggling, make sure to consult a professional for help. Most campuses have mental health resources and counselling services available for students! You don’t have to carry the weight of the semester all on your own!