My Tips on How to Cope With Burnout

Ah, burnout. This is definitely something that I experience; worse, I let it get to me. There have been times when I’ve hardly studied for something because I was so burnt out. To me, burnout is when I’m ready for the quarter or the school year to be done and I’m just letting time pass when I should be giving school even more energy than normal.

Shift Your Perspective

The first step to overcoming burnout is recognizing that it is really just a mindset. It’s my choice to keep the burnt-out mindset or to work to change it. As I’ve gone through college I’ve recognized that learning is really fun. In high school, it felt like such a chore (and so often a bore :)), probably because we were made to take most of our classes. But in college, I am given the choice to learn things I am interested in and if I adjust my mindset a bit and take away the part that feels like a chore, school is really fun. And I am so privileged to get to earn an education. So as you approach finals with your burnout, remember that we are lucky that we get to be in school and if you take the time to study for your finals and absolutely crush them, you not only take away a good grade but higher knowledge which is something we shouldn’t take for granted. 

But, like I said, I still experience burnout. It’s hard not to, even when trying to change my mindset. So, here are some tips that I put together to help with overcoming burnout.

Catch it Early

When you start to feel yourself getting burned out, take some time to readjust your mindset as mentioned before, and also take a step away from your work. Do something relaxing, prioritize yourself, and regain your energy until you’re able to devote your full attention to your studies. 

Study Groups

I’ve always found that when people surrounding me are being productive, I’m more likely to want to be productive. Study groups are especially effective when it’s with people from your class. You’re able to share ideas on what material will be on your tests and to ask questions. Plus, if you’re competitive like me and your classmate is studying specific things that you aren’t, you’re more likely to make sure you have the same skills and facts down. 

I have some specific friends that are especially valuable to me when I am feeling burnt out and this is because they motivate me to get back on track. Have you ever heard of the saying, “You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with?” Well, when it comes to finals week, surround yourself with studious people, because then you’re more likely to be studious too. 

Prioritize Self-Care

We all must prioritize physical and emotional health to have the energy to focus. This is why keeping up with your sleep, exercise, social connections, and nutrition is so important. While this all sounds like a lot to keep up with during such a time-consuming and stressful time, proper time management will make it possible. Read more about my tips to manage your time well here. This is also a perfect time to prioritize journaling! Getting your feelings and thoughts out can help clear your mind so you’re able to focus better on studying.

Healthy Study Habits

Healthy study habits will make the time that you set aside to study so much more productive. And since you’re already really busy during this time, the worst thing you could do is to waste time with unhealthy study habits. Healthy study habits include distraction-free study sessions, realistic expectations for how much you’ll get done in one day, and taking timed breaks. 

All of these tips work together. If you’re managing your time you’re most likely practicing healthy study habits and prioritizing your health. Also, if you’re journaling or expressing your emotions in some way, you’re more likely to catch your burnout early and be able to shift your mindset. I hope this post can help some of you cope with burnout as finals season approaches! I know just writing this post has helped me to see where I’m going wrong.