Does getting out of bed in the morning feel like a daunting task? Does tomorrow’s workload feel like a literal mountain instead of a small pile of papers? If so, you, my friend, may be facing one of the most common ailments in college: the dreaded burnout. Let’s talk about it. This article isn’t about ignoring burnout or trying to push it away. Burnout is like an injury: forcing yourself to work through it will only make it worse. I’m here to talk about how you can work WITH your burnout to finish the semester in the right way without depleting yourself completely. Here are five ways to make burnout your b***h as you slay your way through this semester.
Switch it up!
I get it. Daily routines are comforting and helpful, and they are oh so easy to fall back on. However, in terms of burnout, a rigidly inflexible routine may be *gasp* a leading factor. If every day of your week feels like the same exhausting drag, it may be a sign that you need to shake things up a little! Take a different route to class. Grab coffee with an old friend. Keep things interesting for yourself, and your days will be full of less drudgery, and more fun…gery?
Fuel your body!
Are you yawning throughout your morning lectures? Are these yawns punctuated by the sound of your stomach imitating a dying whale’s call? If you answered yes to either of these, you may need to pay attention to what your body is asking for. These needs are crucial! Your brain needs adequate sleep and food in order to function. Your body needs these things in order to survive. Yes, I know, I’m burnt out and busy, too! It’s tempting to stay up later than we should to work on assignments, and it’s so easy to stay in bed until it’s too late to grab breakfast. However, we have to put it into perspective. You need to eat and sleep. Your existence as a human is so much more important than the time saved by staying up all night or skipping a meal. Please, please fuel your body with adequate food and sleep! Without fulfilling these needs, your burnout will inevitably worsen.
Save it for later! Well, sometimes
I am OBSESSED with a good to-do list. They keep me organized and on track, and I love the motivation they provide to stay on top of things. That being said, a self-imposed structure isn’t always a good thing! In fact, if the schedule you set for yourself is too harsh or inflexible, it may actually lead to or worsen burnout. Think about it.
It can be really great to feel ahead of the game, but stressing unnecessarily over things weeks in advance when you’re already struggling in the moment is exhausting. When your energy is low, limit your to-do list to what needs to be done.
Lean on your support system
Everyone you know has dealt with burnout at least once in their lives. Most of your peers are probably burnt out right now, too. Even your professors might be feeling it. My point here is that everybody understands how you are feeling. Talk to people about your burnout! Ask professors for help when you need it. Form study groups with your peers to help everyone stay on track as we head into finals. Reach out to a counselor or trusted mentor for guidance. Complain to your best friend over FaceTime. You don’t have to tackle this beast alone!
Give yourself a dang break!
Have you ever started a day out with all the motivation in the world, but ended up in bed watching Bridgerton at 6:30? I will be the first to admit that I have absolutely done this. And you know what? I’m not ashamed of it. Sometimes your head is not in the game, and not even the strongest effort can change this. Sometimes you simply need a relaxing break in order to tackle the responsibilities of the next day. Sometimes rest is the most productive thing you can do, and that is more than okay.