Every student, whether in college or not, can relate: burnout is the most common struggle to have. Regardless, we find ways to get out of that slump and keep it pushing because, at the end of the day, it’s all about getting that degree!
Still, if you find yourself in constant burnout or struggle with certain parts of your academics, like studying and completing work, it is definitely time to change your environment and outlook on your academics. Perhaps, it is time to romanticize your college education.
What is romanticization? According to vocabulary.com, it is the act of indulging in sentiment. Synonyms for it include glorification and idealization. Take the root and repeat that: ideal.
Romanticizing is making something ideal and comfortable to your standards. And while the struggles of education are not always ideal, and not very comfortable either, there are still ways to manufacture an environment that you’ll actually appreciate being in when getting your work done.
Here are some suggestions on how you can romanticize your college education. Make sure to personalize these based on your interests and desired aesthetics.
1. Make your surroundings ✨aesthetically pleasing✨
Yes, I know. The phrase, “aesthetically pleasing” has been used way too many times. However, it applies to this first suggestion. Wherever your designated study area is, it should be an environment where you feel comfortable when you look at the space around you.
Your dorm/bedroom is a great example. Normally, you would have a desk to do work at. Think about what you would have on that desk. It should never be cluttered.
When we see a mess, our brains are bombarded with excessive stimuli causing our senses to work overtime, according to Psychology Today. What is this translated to? You are adding unnecessary stress on top of your stressful AF assignments.
If you’re studying for a big exam or just completing assignments, you need to be focused and if you look at your surroundings and it is a jumble of disorganization, then you’re not truly focused. If you’re stressing, you aren’t focusing and retaining the information that you will need.
What can you do to create a much more calm and more productive environment? First, before you get any work done, put your stuff away. Over the school year, all kinds of stuff can accumulate in your working space. Briefly put things away, or at least out of sight.
Next, ask yourself when you look up from your papers or computer, what would you like to see?
An ample and pleasant view of human activity and/or vegetation through a window is proven to increase better outcomes for student learning, according to a study conducted by the American Institute of Architects California. However, a glare of light may be distracting for learning, therefore, throw some curtains on the window to control some of the light that gets into your study area.
Are you facing a wall? Personalize what’s in front of you then. Perhaps you can place a bookshelf with all your favorite books or a bulletin board with reminders and visual objects that make you happy, like photos, art, etc. Throw some posters on the wall of your favorite shows, music artists/groups, or something that you think looks cool. Put some plants (real or fake, depending on your dedication to being a full-time plant parent) on that bookshelf or on the desk.
Maintaining a specific color scheme when crafting your designated study space will add to a harmonious environment to be productive.
For more inspiration, consider searching “study area aesthetic” on Pinterest.
2. Pretend you are being watched
While you are getting work done, consider thinking you are being watched whether it be by friends, parents, professors, students or maybe even made-up YouTube viewers. Seriously! This is a strategy to keep yourself accountable, by pretending someone else is keeping you accountable.
Ever watch those “Study with Me” videos on YouTube (personally, I love having them on when getting my work done)? Normally, it looks like the students on there have their shit together, with a beautiful view or study area while spending an hour or more getting work done. They probably get 100s and A+s on everything, right? Pause, why can’t that be you, though?
Why can’t you have a magnificent space with a graceful color scheme to get your work done? These Youtubers may be making money with their videos, but they are also using a camera to keep their studious momentum going. They are being watched. Stop thinking about how someone else is an “academic weapon” as the trends are saying today, but that YOU are an absolute beast in academics.
Being educated is a major flex, keep that mentality and get to work!
3. Turn in your assignments on time
We all know how gratifying it is to complete an assignment and get a good grade back. When feeling burned out, we may fall behind or struggle to keep up the quality of work. Don’t worry, that is normal, and no, you are not a failure.
While it differs per professor, late work submissions are a lot more normalized in college, than in high school. However, when turning in late work, your satisfaction is slighted because it wasn’t completed on time. Therefore, designate enough time in your schedule to complete work and make a list so you can visually see what needs to get done for the day.
When you turn in that assignment on time with focus, there would be no reason to only feel partly proud of yourself. You completed a task and turned it in on time! Pat yourself on the back. When you get that grade back, knowing you did quality work, it feels great and reassuring.
Keep this practice up and you’ll find yourself more productive and get constant reassurance that you are a good student and you’re doing a good job, therefore limiting burnout.
4. Remind yourself of what you are working towards
College is hard, but you clearly have a vision of yourself in the future. The best way to romanticize your college education is to constantly remind yourself of what you are trying to achieve. Whether that is success or comfort, you wouldn’t put yourself through so much stress (and money) if you were not trying to achieve something.
Imagine yourself in the next few years, being an expert in your field, doing amazing things in the industry you work in.
When you get to that point, you can be satisfied with the fact that you worked hard in college and achieved your goals.
However, don’t think you can’t stop grinding. That is unrealistic and not fun.
Regardless of what anyone says, you should not go through long periods of study without breaks involved. That is one of the fastest ways to lose focus or get distracted easily.
Try the Pomodoro technique, where you spend designated blocks of time doing work, with short breaks in between. After about four blocks of work, take a longer break, and depending on the workload, repeat.
Cramming knowledge into your head will derail your education, as you are only retaining it in your short-term memory, and the process itself can increase a lot of stress and anxiety.
College is ultimately for education, yes, but it is also for experience. What better way to feel good than going into the weekend, knowing you’ve achieved what you needed to do over the week? Now you can relax and have fun!
Remember, you are doing something amazing: getting educated! Keep going and use some of these tips to help you through it!