If you’re anything like me, at this point in the semester, your motivation is at its all-time low, you’re mentally exhausted, and you’re beyond stressed out. This all-consuming feeling is known as burnout, and it’s no surprise if you’re feeling this way. Between the never-ending workload, extra-curricular activities, and everything in between, it is no surprise if you’re experiencing burnout.
So, what do you do if you are burnt out? Here are my 5 top tips to BEAT your burnout!
- Clean and declutter your space
-
I don’t know about you, but having a clean and decluttered environment makes completing assignments and studying so much easier. It may not seem like it, but the cluttered clothes in the corner of your dorm, your unmade bed, and the pile of papers on your desk can distract you and further stress you out. Organizing your space is the first step in rediscovering a motivational mindset. Turning on my favorite show on Netflix or shuffling my favorite playlist makes the cleaning and reorganizing go by faster and makes it a more enjoyable experience.
- Make to-do lists
-
Okay, yes, this seems so obvious. But, trust me! If your deadlines are swarming around in your head, writing them all down can help to reduce your stress. I am a huge advocate of to-do lists, especially with Google Keep. It’s a free, online program to make to-lists for. I make daily to-do lists and weekly lists for each of my classes. I find it to be one of the most useful and effective ways to stay on top of my school work.
After writing out your to-do list you might find yourself overwhelmed by how daunting the list is. If you find yourself in this situation, I recommend setting a timer for 15 to 30 minutes and attempting to finish as much as you can. Then, you can let yourself take a break. Finishing your to-do list in little spurts of time can make completing the list less daunting.
- Schedule Breaks
-
Built within your to-do list can and should be scheduled breaks. It is important to let yourself rest in between work periods. Plus, if you know that you have breaks, you’ll be more likely to work as hard as possible during your work time. Just like your work time, make sure that your breaks are timed, at least loosely, so that you can keep yourself on track, even if it is really hard to do so.
- Exercise
-
Exercise can mean so many different things. The whole point is to get your body moving. This might be a walk around campus, a run around the track, taking advantage of Denison’s fitness classes, or dancing in your dorm with your friends. Whatever movement looks like for you, it is a great way to destress and get a burst of adrenaline.
- Make realistic goals
-
I know I am not the only one who makes unrealistic goals for myself. While I do believe that it provides me with a drive to be an involved and successful student, it can be so harmful when I do not meet my expectations. My inability to meet such expectations does not make me any less of a person; it is simply that my goals are impossible to achieve. You do not have to be perfect to be successful and smart. Set goals, but make them attainable!
I wish you the BEST of luck with the remainder of the semester!