The weight of deadlines can be overwhelming no matter what point of the semester you’re in. I’m not here to offer a solution to burnout, but I’ve learned that consistency is key in getting through the toughest days. This means showing up for yourself in small ways. Everyone needs to find creative ways and small rituals to keep their day moving in a positive direction.
- Midnight Resets
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Sometimes the worst days need an endcap. Completing a task or game is a tangible way to reset the mind. For the nights I can’t seem to fall asleep, my ritual of choice is undoubtedly the New York Times Games.
It’s a nice way to remind myself that a piece of the world has moved on to a new day. I have loved playing Wordle and Connections for years, and as a frequent user of the app, I’ve noticed my brain starts to “power down,” so to speak, once I’ve finished my games for the night.
Plus, consistently playing these games allows users to track their stats and their streaks. While I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on a number, it can be a great way to measure progress.
- Shaking Off the Morning Rust
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Morning grogginess is something that college students are all too familiar with, but there may be a trick to avoiding the even more familiar snoozed alarm. Start the day with a learning app to shift the brain into action. This is a difficult ritual to enact, but it’s all the more rewarding.
I like to start my mornings with Duolingo, but any learning app works the same. Yes, I’m usually squinting through my eyelids to see the screen, but the lessons on Duolingo only take two minutes to complete. This makes the app, and by extension, learning, super low-stakes.
By the time I’m done, my brain is awake, and I’m less tempted to go back to sleep. It’s meaningful for me to learn outside of the classroom in a less stressful way. When I feel myself oscillating towards burnout, feeling productive in the morning is a huge win.
- Midday Pause
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By noon, momentum can easily turn into fatigue. This lull is a great place to implement a daily reminder to pause. At this point in the day, I prefer a ritual a little more intentional than mindlessly scrolling through socials.
I like to take my pause with an app called DailyArt. With the app, you can add a large widget to your phone screen that changes every 24 hours. Sometimes I only have enough time to look at the featured artwork of the day, but there is also a short blurb for when I can spend a few more moments on a midday pause.
These descriptions contain fun facts and usually explain why the app chose that specific piece for the day. For example, I learned that one of my favorite artists’ birthdays is on Halloween thanks to The Astronomer by Johannes Vermeer, which was featured on the app on Halloween Eve.
- Transforming the Walk to Class
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Rituals do not always require setting aside additional time. In fact, the best kind of rituals can elevate moments you would already spend doing something mundane.
I take a 20-minute walk to and from class every day, and there are times when a good playlist just isn’t enough to clear my head. For me, a podcast is like a conversation without social interaction, and depending on the day, that’s exactly what I need. I rely on a holy trinity of podcasts: Good Hang, Royal Court, and Mythical Kitchen. The hosts are so intentional and personable, making conversations about life special, no matter who the guest is.
- Post-Class Accountability
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Avoiding the post-class slump is no easy feat. Looking at the entire month at a glance on a digital calendar is exactly the kind of practice I try to avoid. It can be overwhelming and put a dent in my motivation. To focus on a day-by-day mentality, I’ve found handwriting to be a grounding tool.
Writing down tasks on paper, a whiteboard, or even a sticky note is a small yet mighty act of accountability. Handwriting cements tasks into reality, and planning out the evening makes the post-class break feel well-earned.
Even when some rituals feel like a chore in the moment, you’re still moving forward by completing an item and checking a box off your to-do list. Most of all, you’re learning something, winning, failing, or simply trying. Daily rituals serve as a steady reminder that we are human.
Focus on the little things: the small, controllable details of our daily life. The smallest tasks often hold the potential to be the most gratifying.
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