This past week, I experienced burnout like never before. No matter how much I slept, I was exhausted. No matter how much I would try, I couldn't focus on anything. Small tasks felt overwhelming while the pile of things to get done grew into an unclimbable Everest. The prior weeks had been marked by endless homework and working on class projects, and suddenly my drive and energy disappeared altogether.
What is it about the American dream and spirit of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps that disallow rest of any kind? It seems we are bound to our hard work ethic and forget that we have limits and must simply rest. Try as I might, ultimately the remedy for my burnout was simply to ride it out and rest, rather than force my mind to read assignments that it wouldn't remember anyway.
It's funny how our bodies often do not realize how exhausted they are until we finally stop and rest. Our bodies faithfully trudge on to each task that we force them to, with some complaint of course, but still the job gets done. It isn't until we slow down, process our week and business that our bodies get the chance to scream, "Human, why do you hate me?! Make this stop!" I want to go to bed!!!"
And then suddenly without permission, your body slips into a coma.
Okay, maybe it doesn't get that bad. But we should listen to our bodies when they complain.
As a recovering stress addict, I've found that the first step to recovery involves a lot of sleep. It seems as if for a long time no matter the amount of sleep, your eyes feel heavy and your mind feels sluggish. Even so, it is good to keep sleeping as your body asks for it, especially if you've been sleep deprived for an extended period of time.
Another important step to recovery is exercise. Even though our days can wipe us out to the point where standing is a challenge, exercise of some sort will make the body happy. It helps improve our moods, gives us more energy, and even helps us sleep better and more consistently. I've found that if I can even do some small exercises in my room during a study break, it often proves far more effective than a pot of coffee!
After we can get to a point where our bodies are not suffering too much, it is important to recharge the mind. Go ahead and watch some TV or hang out with friends! Chronic business has the nasty effect of alienating ourselves and starving our social lives and sense of fun. A time of senseless shenanigans with friends will cheer us up and remind us that we are more than machines that constantly work.
Ultimately, the most important skill to harness is prioritization. Maybe you can't do all of the readings for one class if it means it will be less time spent working on that big paper in another class. Do what's more important first, and above all, remember to stop and rest.
