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Burnout
It’s getting to that point in the term when end of year deadlines are coming at you left, right, and centre and motivation levels are starting to take a nosedive. 🤯
Which only means one thing: burnout. If you don’t know what it is, burnout is the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion we can experience from prolonged stress. Sound familiar? A survey conducted last year found that around 40% of Uni students experienced burnout at some point during the academic year. 🥵
So here are five top tips to make your stress more manageable and will stop you from running yourself into the ground and get you through this demanding period. You’ve got this.
- Getting your beauty sleep
While this might seem a bit obvious, one of the best ways to prevent burnout is to get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is essential for recharging our batteries. And without enough of it, our brains can’t function properly. So, our advice would be to stop religiously pulling all-nighters (if you can avoid it) as they’re not doing you any favours. 😴
Why? Because going to bed late and getting a few hours of sleep is self-sabotage at its finest. So instead of staying up until sunrise trying to write the last three paragraphs of your essay, you’d be better off closing your laptop and hitting the hay.
Here is a gentle reminder not to lose sleep (excuse the pun), working until the crack of dawn because you won’t be half as productive as you would be if you’ve had forty winks. 💤
- Exercising
Multiple studies have shown that sitting down and staring at a screen all day is bad for our health. So, take regular breaks during your studies and make a conscious effort to get some fresh air to blow away the cobwebs. 🌳
Scientists have recently found a link between regular exercise and enhanced creative thinking. If you’ve reached a standstill and are stumped on what to write next in your essay, why not go for a thirty-minute walk to get your creative juices flowing and have a change of scenery? 🏃♀️
You’ll be better off getting up and out to help clear your head and lower your stress levels. And with that in mind, the NHS recommends you do at least two and a half hours of moderate exercise per week.Try it out for yourself and just watch what happens!
- Spending time with your loved ones
Although knuckling down on your work should be one of your top priorities over the next few weeks, you should also remember to spend time with your friends and family.
The worst thing you can do when you feel overwhelmed by your workload is become a hermit and suffer in silence. The people who matter most to you are there to support you. It’s possible your friends will be in the same boat and can empathise, and your family will lend a listening ear. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved. 🤝
Some simple but effective ways to keep you feeling postive are meeting for a coffee, having dinner or even having a movie night together. That’s what friends and family are for. ☕️ 🍽 🍿
- Trying something new or revisiting an old hobby
Setting aside time for doing the things you love couldn’t be more important, during any time of the year really. Hobbies are a great way to relax and unwind and will give your brain a much-deserved break. 😎
So why not revisit an old hobby or take up a new one?
Whatever hobby takes your fancy, having some downtime will help to take your mind off the essay that’s keeping you up at night. Or to take a breather from the countless journal articles you’ve read recently. Maybe these examples can spark an interest – how about learning a new language or trying out a musical instrument. Maybe picking up a paintbrush or even giving yoga a go. Whether you dust off an old hobby, or are inspired to check out a new one, You’ll be surprised and feel more zen in no time. 🧘♀️
- Eating a well-balanced diet
Good food fuels our brains, gives our bodies energy, and keeps the hangriness at bay. Quick disclaimer: we are in no way experts on this kind of thing, but we know that following a healthy, balanced diet has been shown to help combat stress more effectively. 🧠
Ready meals and takeaways seem like a good idea when you don’t have the time or energy to cook something from scratch, but they are merely a temporary fix and won’t help you feel your best in the long run. That’s not to say you shouldn’t treat yourself every once in a while, but make sure to eat those things in moderation.
There are lots of resources online that have guidance on what makes a healthy, balanced diet. Check out organisations such as the NHS and EatingWell for more information! 🍏
Although these may seem like small changes in your daily routine, they will massively improve your mental well-being. If you take anything away from this article, be it that study breaks are just as important as the studying itself. Easier said than done, we know, but make sure to squeeze in the things (and people) you love into your busy schedule.
It’s no secret that being swamped day in and day out can lead to high levels of stress and anxiety, so if you feel like you have too much on your plate, don’t hesitate to talk to someone about it. There are always people you can turn to for help. In addition to friends and family, Student Support at your Uni, your academic advisor, or your GP are great resources. There are also listening services such as studentspace.org.uk or samaritans.org.
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