Going into my senior year of college, I’ve learned that burnout happen,s and it happens a lot faster than you might think it does. It can be easy to get caught up with organizations, school, and jobs. As we settle into our routines, each day begins to feel the same: class, homework, class, homework, and occasionally you are able to fit sleep and social life into that pattern. This can be overwhelming, but it’s important to learn how to avoid the dreaded college burnout and to stay on track in classes while also maintaining your mental health. Here are some tips to help you avoid burnout.
- Spend Time with Yourself
It’s important to take time alone to recharge; alone time is often a difficult thing to come by in college. As fun as it is to be social and fill your time with the people you love, it’s equally important to spend time with yourself. We all need a break sometimes, but figuring out how to spend that time is often the difficult part. It can be hard to say no to your friends when they ask to hang out, but sometimes it’s just what you might need. Below are a few ideas on how to spend your alone time.
- Watch your favorite show/movie! Anything from Euphoria, to Gossip Girl, to anything Disney!
- Bake/cook. This is one of my favorite things to do because I find it to be so peaceful!
- Get active! Go to the gym or a walk around campus to get active.
- Treat yourself! Go get your favorite meal, coffee, or treat. Have a selfcare night. This can be facemasks, painting your nails, or even just taking a long bath!
2. Get Your Sleep!
It’s easy to put sleep at the bottom of your list of things to do. However, without proper rest, all of the things you prioritized over sleep will not be done as well as they could have been if you were well-rested. Your mind and body need rest in order to tackle each day, so it’s important to refrain from putting sleep at the bottom of your priorities. I know personally, this is something I can learn to be much better about since I would rather go days without sleep than experience FOMO. Even though we seem young, sleep is so essential to have our bodies working correctly.
3. Have Fun
You’re at school to get an education, and your coursework should be your priority. However, college is also about having fun and making memories with the people you meet along the way. The best way to ensure the fun still has a place in your day-to-day life is to make sure you don’t procrastinate on your work. Get your stuff done so that you have the time to do the things you love without the stress of looming responsibilities. Although school is your priority, there’s so much more to college, and each thing is an important part of the college experience. Be sure to give yourself the opportunity to have fun sometimes. Join an organization or club! Sit next to someone you don’t know! The possibilities are endless.
College is stressful and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the responsibilities that have been thrown at you, but by learning to balance school, spend time alone, be well-rested, and have fun, school can be very enjoyable. Avoiding burnout is obviously easier said than done, but it’s possible once you find the perfect balance between all of the things going on in your life. Avoiding burnout in college and prioritizing your mental health is essential to having the best college experience, and creating the most stress-free environment possible for yourself.