Battling midterm burnout

Midterm season in college can be one of the most stressful times of the semester. Papers, assignments, exams, and work pile up in addition to our extracurricular activities while we’re still working to maintain a social life for the sake of our sanity. From the freshmen this year experiencing their first college midterm week to our seniors getting closer to their last, we’re all feeling the pain of burnout.

What even is burnout?!

Burnout is that feeling of perpetual exhaustion and lack of motivation to put your full effort into the work and activities you typically care so much about. You’re not just lazy, I promise. Feeling burnt out is a normal thing to experience in college, especially when juggling many responsibilities at the same time (regardless of whether we enjoy them or not).

Obviously, we need to take care of our responsibilities, but it’s also important to prioritize mental health at the same time. We’re always told when we feel burnt out to take some time for ourselves, but it’s not always easy to find the time for relaxation and “me time” when sleep is already being lost to assignments.

So what can you do about it?

Burnout is here, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay. Here’s a list of ways to help yourself battle the burn and feel like yourself again:

Organize your responsibilities: Staying organized can be done in countless ways, and some things work better for certain people than others. Color-coding your Google calendar or putting all of your assignments into a Google sheet can help with the motivation aspect of burnout. Getting to cross off each assignment as you complete them is like a little celebration. Sometimes, all we need is that small burst of joy to keep us going.

Make a study playlist: Music is a great way to help yourself lock in. Making new playlists of relaxing instrumental or ambient music to listen to in the background can help block out surrounding distractions.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Sometimes, as college students, we feel like we have to be entirely self-sufficient. However, we are still young and learning to balance our responsibilities. Professors are here for more than just standing at the front of a classroom. Don’t be afraid to attend office hours, ask for additional clarification, or even for extensions on a deadline, which can ease some of the stress. Just be proactive. Don’t leave your professors in the dark when you are struggling.

Study with friends: During midterms, it can be hard to find the time to socialize and spend time with the people who bring you joy. You’re probably not the only one going through this feeling of burnout. So go on a study date with a friend to motivate each other.

Give yourself permission to take a break: We don’t always need to be go go going. Even if it feels like there’s not enough time in the day to get everything done on our to-do lists, it’s better to take a break, go on a walk, or grab dinner with a friend. Don’t force your brain to work overtime just to end up with work you’re not proud of. You will get it all done!

Although feeling burnt out at some point in the semester is almost inevitable as a college student, prioritizing taking time for yourself when needed can ease the burn just a bit.