Here we are back at finals, which in college, are characterized by lack of sleep, puppies on campus, and a good deal of coffee. Everyone is exhausted, everyone is stressed. But for some people...it’s more than that - maybe it’s an exhausted that hasn’t let up for the past few weeks. Maybe, for you, it’s stress that is so overwhelming that irritability is a commonplace reaction to everyone. Or maybe, it’s losing your cheerful disposition to depression, because life just won’t let up. My friends, unfortunately, if any of this sounds familiar...you might be experiencing burnout. It’s actually recognized by the psychological community, and includes all of the aspects above, and is defined as, “the result of severe, prolonged, mismanaged stress”. Some other notable characteristics are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, hostile, withdrawn, and self deprecating. Obviously, none of this is good. Unfortunately though, with the added pressure of finals, a lot of students experience this. However! We’re here to cover some ways to avoid burnout. Most importantly, by doing your best to manage your stress well - like using a planner of some sort to give yourself a realistic amount of time to study, or saying no to things that aren’t urgent. By being efficient with your time and rearranging your priorities, you will save yourself A LOT of grief. Next, please, don’t put so much pressure on yourself. It’s okay to have goals to do well and it’s okay to push yourself to attain them, but within reason. Good grades are good, but they aren’t everything. No need to catastrophize here. Put in the work, and trust that your grades will reflect that. Finally, be kind to yourself. In times of stress and pressure, it’s so easy to be self critical and neglect our own needs. But don’t be afraid to relax and care for yourself...in the long run skipping out on flash cards for a 20 minute bath will do you much more good than harm. Or not even that - just take time to care for yourself in whatever way works best for you! Please do it, though. This week can be challenging, but productive, if you take the right steps. Burnout is a horrible state to be in, and I’d hate to think of anyone else in it!

Be kind to yourself, guys.

Happy Finals

Alli