Going to a university with a crazy hustle culture, it can be very easy to fall into unhealthy habits. Never getting enough sleep, having little social time, and rarely taking time to relax isn’t concerning-it’s the norm. While being hard-working is admirable and most students prioritize school, the line between being studious and letting school completely consume your life is blurred. Trust me, I crossed it without realizing for months.Â
With such a fine line, how can you make sure you don’t cross it? Since it’s hard to tell when you do, the best way to avoid crossing is by building healthy habits. Here are three healthy habits to help you maintain work-life balance, and avoid academic burnout.
set aside time for your hobbies
One of the quickest ways to burn out is by neglecting to pursue your interests outside of school. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday tasks, constantly prioritizing academics over anything else. However, pursuing your hobbies is, arguably, just as important as studying for school. They provide a mental break, which is much needed after a busy day of schoolwork. Whether you take three hours to read a new book, or even a short 30 minutes to play your favorite game, taking a step away decreases stress. Mental breaks and decreased stress are important because they nurture productivity and mental wellbeing. In other words, they help you do better in school! While it may seem unproductive to pursue your hobbies, they actually increase productivity through positively impacting your mental state.Â
Ignore imposter syndrome
Admittedly, this is something I have struggled with since my first semester here. So, I get it’s easier said than done. However, in my experience, it has been one of the biggest contributors to the times I’ve burnt out. When you convince yourself you don’t belong here, or that you are not as smart as anyone else in your class, you internalize those feelings. Once those feelings are internalized, you may find yourself struggling in your classes. Not because you’re not working enough, or not understanding the topics, but because these anxieties arise in exams, or speeches, or essays. While this is a difficult problem to solve, I’ve found the best way to combat imposter syndrome is by joining a study group! A simple fix, I know, but when you’re in a group of people seeking help for the same class, you begin to realize you’re not the only one that is struggling. In addition to joining a study group, I have found it helpful to talk about my imposter syndrome with my friends and classmates! While the first time doing this may be nerve-wracking, you will find that more people relate to it than you think! Ignoring imposter is crucial to avoiding academic burnout, as it helps reduce the idea that you are not doing enough or need to “prove yourself.”
use a calendar to structure study time
While many students already use Google Calendar, and similar apps, in order to keep track of their assignments, classes, and club events, not as many use it to schedule study time. This may seem meticulous, but by planning out your school day down to your study times and study topics, you avoid wasted time-time that could be spent pursuing hobbies or social activities. When adding study time to your already crowded Google Calendar, my best advice is to make it a task, specifying what class/topic you are studying for, and what time you will be studying. By making it a task, it motivates you to complete it so you can check it off. By specifying the class/topic, it makes your goals concise and easier to reach. By specifying the time, it motivates you to not waste this time doom scrolling on your phone. Using a calendar to structure study time helps prevent academic burnout because it avoids wasted time and increases productivity.Â
College is stressful! And hustle culture has increased this stress. Try taking a step back from your work, and try these three strategies in order to avoid academic burnout.Â