I think we all can agree that this semester has been one of the strangest that we will all experience during our college careers. All of my classes have been online. Clubs and activities have been moved to Zoom or canceled altogether. Social events are a thing of the past. Do you remember football games? Dancing in a sweaty frat basement? College looks different this semester, and we are all trying to learn how to cope.
The freshness of the semester has long faded, and the reality of homework, assignments, projects, papers, and midterms has set in. As the weeks pass, it has become increasingly difficult to focus on my schoolwork as I did back in August.
But, the burnout is different this time. It is more intense and has been way harder to shake off. My eyes are glued to my computer screen for the duration of the day. I hardly leave my desk, and since I live off-campus, I have only been on campus a handful of times. Time moves slow and days feel longer.
I started to fall into a trap of the same mundane routine each week. I was doing the same thing each day and was fine with that. But, this behavior started to take a toll on my life. I felt stressed, overwhelmed, overly tired, and anxious. A change had to be made.
I started to make a conscious effort to get out of the house as often as I could while still being safe and following COVID-19 precautions. And in a state like Colorado, that is very easy with all the outdoor activities there are to do. I try to distract myself from the craziness of the semester as much as possible.
When I am dealing with burnout, I try to do as much self-care as possible. Personally, I see a big correlation between stress and eating, and my mood. I try to eat a balanced diet and avoid a lot of junk food in a burnout… but that doesn’t stop me from treating myself to Boulder Baked or Sweet Cow very frequently.
Working out and exercising has been a lifesaver this semester and during COVID-19 in general. It is my time to get out of the house and burn some of my energy. It can be anything. I’ve grown to really appreciate walks with friends and family to clear my head.
I think sleep may be the most important factor when dealing with mid-semester burnout. When I have a lot of school work, sleep is usually the first to go. I stay up until all hours trying to complete assignments. But, I am the type of person that needs sleep. I cannot be productive without it. This semester, I have learned to prioritize my sleep and limit my procrastination to try and avoid any late nights.
This semester has taken some getting used to, and we are all learning together. Just make sure you are prioritizing yourself and your own needs.