Going to college during a pandemic can be exhausting. On top of the anxiety surrounding infection rates, students have to cope with the loss of breaks during the semester and the loss of in person events or socializing that can serve to relieve the stress of school. With these added stressors, we become more susceptible to burnout, which the World Health Organization defines as feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s work, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s work and reduced work efficacy. Although it may seem like burnout is an insurmountable obstacle to finishing this semester, there are several ways that you can counteract burnout and regain your confidence to finish this semester strong.
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Catch up on sleep
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When we don’t get enough sleep, our threshold for burnout becomes low. Regular tasks become much more difficult due to a lack of energy. Although it may not seem possible to get 8 hours of sleep every night while dealing with midterms and papers, one way to diminish your burnout is reminding yourself to catch up on sleep where you can.
- Make a list and prioritize
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With a breakless semester, our schoolwork can seem to be consistently increasing. One way to feel like you have control over your work is to make a list of everything you want to get done for the day and prioritize these tasks. By prioritizing your day, you prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed by the larger demands of your upcoming month.
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Create time for breaks
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When we’re so wrapped up in our studies, we forget the importance of taking breaks or getting involved in activities that will take us away from academics. Still, these breaks can help us to destress and come back to studying with a healthier mindset. Whether it’s listening to music, going for a jog, or making lunch plans with friends, time you spend away from school can help you more than you might think. It’s also important to reward yourself for getting through a particularly stressful period of time, whether that is through your breaks or through treating yourself another way.
- Focus on meaning
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One symptom of burnout is the feeling of negativity related to your work. Since your academic workload may be the cause of your exhaustion, you can start to feel resentment towards your classes. One way to combat this feeling of burnout is to remind yourself why you are here. Maybe it’s because you really enjoy learning about the history of American politics or maybe it’s because you have dreams of going to medical school and becoming a doctor. Regardless of your reasons, focusing on meaning will help you to re-engage with your schoolwork with a renewed sense of purpose.
- Ask for help
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It’s not a secret that going to college during a pandemic is difficult and exhausting. If you’re struggling to stay on track with a course, reaching out to your professor and asking for help or for an extension on an assignment may provide the aid you need. Reaching out to the University Counseling Center can allow you to talk through the toll of this semester with counselors and receive their advice. Talking about your struggles with your friends may open your eyes to how prevalent burnout is among students this semester.
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