I am so tired. I’m stressed, I’m bored, I’m running on fumes, and about to explode on my roommate. Even though the weeks are winding down on the University of Washington campus, I can’t give up just yet.
Though I may really, really want to.
But I can’t.
Number one, I’m definitely one of those people who crave academic validation. Anything less than a 3.0 makes me want to cry. (Is it blatantly obvious I’m a freshman?) Every time I think “Maybe I should just go take a nap” or log into Netflix to re-binge some show I’ve already seen three times, there’s this little voice that says, “No, a 3.8 will feel infinitely better than this momentary enjoyment.”
And that little voice is always right. Damn my ego, why must I always be correct?!
Speaking of ego, I used to be really self-conscious about my sense of pride. I felt like it made me a bad person for thinking so highly of myself and my achievements, namely, the aforementioned academic achievements. But pride is not inherently a bad thing, in fact, it pushes me forward. My pride in doing well in classes or delivering a good paper keeps me running towards the end goal of summer break with no intention to stop.
But pride, as the only thing to fight against burnout, isn’t enough. Burnout is a formidable adversary with a boss-sized health bar. It’s the Bowser to my Mario, the Ganondorf to my Link, and the blue shell to my first-place position in Mario Kart.
So, what should I do?
Taking my own experience from the previous quarters, writing down my daily plans with the intention of crossing them off works wonders. I’m a completionist at heart so dramatically checking a box really gets the dopamine rolling in. I feel accomplished yet also responsible, I assigned these pieces of homework or parts of an essay to work on, so I really should get it done.
But I don’t follow my to-do list exactly, I tend to write many things to get done in a day in no particular order. I tend to write “gym” on my list and keep that in the back of my mind throughout the day. I, personally, recommend getting out and doing something physical to break up your day and keep that energy flowing. There always seems to be something going on at the Ave, serving as a way to get out, just like this past weekend’s fair where I walked thousands of steps, up and down the Ave, looking at all of the stands and, of course, getting boba.
Try to soak in the sun, when possible. Take a breath and think about how far you’ve come. You deserve a break and to make it through these next few weeks without the threat of burnout hanging over you. Take time for yourself, whatever that may be. Do a face mask or get a pedicure, or get an extra fifteen minutes of sleep every night. Maybe re-binge that comfort show you love, or start a new one that grips your attention from the first moment!
But for those of you who can’t seem to find time to rest, may I recommend the Pomodoro Technique for studying? If you haven’t tried it, check out this video for the best way to go about it and its benefits. Just know that this studying will be worth it and, remember, it’s almost over!
All in all, please take care of yourself. Listen to your body and mind. Try to enjoy the remaining weeks, knowing the bad times, the stressful times, and the anxious times, all will be left behind.