As I'm writing this I can tell you that I am extremely burnt out from this semester. And it's still November. Meaning endless midterm season, papers/lab reports due each week and unnecessary book assignments for a subject that we will probably never think about again after this semester is over. This time is extremely upsetting because there's a period where you're all chillin', have no worries and are watching Netflix until 2 am. But then, not even a week later, boom you got to turn in 3 papers, 2 lab reports and study for 3 midterms ( an exaggeration but is it really tho ).
As you can probably tell, I am not exactly thrilled. I love Thanksgiving, but thinking about all the things that I have to do after (finals, more papers, etc), well let's just say that I kind of want to skip forward to winter break where I'll be back home and have at least a week before I have to worry about school again.
So if you're burnt out like I am right now, aka meaning that you're overwhelmed, sleeping (or not sleeping at all) and still feeling tired, and ever so slightly on the verge of a breakdown... I can't say that there are any real solutions to it. Besides, you know, dropping everything and be done with it. Honestly, this probably won't end until the end of this semester (and will probably come back as soon as the Spring semester starts). What I can say though that there are some ways to make it a bit better.
Take a nap
If you really need it, honestly take a nap. Be it 10, 30 or 90 minutes, whatever you need bud. For someone who hates naps, I can say that they do help-- probably not right after you wake up when you're regretting all of your life decisions and already setting your timer for another 10 minutes-- but right when you finally get yourself to get up and work on your papers/study you will feel a bit more energized.
Listen to 'energetic' music
You can listen to heavy metal/whatever music you prefer, but for me, I find it a bit hard to concentrate on music that has any words to it (since I usually start focusing on what they're saying/singing along). But I'm also not saying to put Mozart on and listen to that for hours (no offense to anyone that does this but it honestly makes me sleepy after awhile), but actually going on Youtube and typing 'music for staying awake' or something along those lines. It honestly works-- it may sound weird at first, but I swear that there have been multiple times where I'm on the verge of nodding off and listening to this wakes me up after only a minute. Maybe it's the placebo effect, I don't know, it works though.
Walk around
Especially if you've been sitting for long periods of time. Even taking a quick walk to the bathroom helps, anything to stretch your legs a bit.
Stay hydrated/don't skip meals
As a student who doesn't currently have a meal plan and who cooks most of their meals, it gets harder and harder to take and hour of your time to cook/eat when you could easily be studying/working on another assignment. If you have a meal plan use it during these days. If not, meal plan, order food (I know, expensive) or even just have a couple of snacks with you (granola, fruits, etc.). And of course, hydrate or die-drate.
Have someone remind you to go to class
My mom does this for me a lot since she knows that I have a habit of sleeping through my alarm (*cue the story about the time I missed half of my final because I slept through my alarm*). She doesn't always do this but sometimes, a few minutes after my alarm goes off, she starts calling me to wake me up. And you know it's a win-win for both of us: we both get to talk to each other in the morning and know that I'm not wasting my education!
Take a break
This goes a bit with the napping, but if you need any kind of break, take it. This also goes for taking a whole academic year off (yes, it's a thing). Your mental and physical health comes first in all of this, then your education.
If you're feeling overly stressed, don't be afraid to reach out to someone
This is easier said than done. Personally speaking, it's really tough just going up to a friend/family, etc and telling them all your worries/anything you're overwhelmed with, but it does help, even if you end up crying about it. If that's too tough, writing about it helps to-- pull out a google/word doc and just type away.
We're all in the final home-stretch so hang in there!
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