Academic burnout is real, but here’s how you’ll handle it in 2022.
First, let me start by saying I apologize for not blogging these past couple months. This semester has been a whirlwind. From being a part of my university’s newspaper (and making our investigative debut) to working on my school’s student council, I’ve had a lot on my plate lately. A big part of my time has also been serving as a campus brand ambassador for Samsung and Bartleby.
I’ve had to wear many hats and be a student at the same time and honestly, I’m burnt out.
Three straight months of conducting meetings, writing essays, and hosting events has me tired. Initially, I didn’t realize I was burnt out until I started researching topics to post on my Instagram. That’s when I learned I had symptoms of academic burnout and didn’t even realize it.
Now that I know more about it, I know how to conquer it.
What is academic burnout?
According to O’Connor Professional Group, academic burnout is a result “from performing at a high level until stress and tension, especially from extreme and prolonged physical or mental exertion or overburdened workload, take their toll”.
It’s more than just being stressed about a project or feeling worried about a test. It’s skipping class, feeling anxious or dreadful, and decreased performance in classes.
What are the symptoms of academic burnout?
Symptoms of academic burnout look like:
Physical
- Headaches
- Sore muscle aches
- Jaw tension
- Insomnia
- Fatigue/Exhaustion
- Higher frequency of illness because of stress and exhaustion
Mental
- Lacking motivation to attend classes or start assignments
- Lashing out at others and increased irritability
- Lacking inspiration and creativity to bring to projects and class discussions
- Loss of confidence in academic abilities
- Feeling anxious or depressed
- Feeling bored or uninterested in aspects of school or areas of leisure that you used to enjoy
- Cynicism toward one’s job and a reduced ability to do one’s work
Behavioral
- Increase in bad habits such as overeating, staying up too late, nail biting, or habits you do when stressed or not taking care of yourself
- Lashing out at people around you because of frustration
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and classmates
- Sudden mood swings
Information from: University of the People & The Researcher.Life Blog
How do I overcome academic burnout?
Burnout is something that happens to a lot of us—me included. Although it’s a stressful feeling, there are ways to overcome it slowly but surely.
Listen to your body
When your body tells you to rest, listen. If you don’t rest when your body tells you to, it will do it for you.
Resting, meditating, and exercising are some ways to give your body what it needs.
I’m not a big gym fanatic but I love doing simple stretches in my room when I wake up. Anything that disrupts your body from the monotony of sitting at a desk can help.
Here are some simple stretches to try in between classes or during your morning and night routine:
Pace yourself
Don’t procrastinate.
This may sound hypocritical coming from me—someone who procrastinates daily—but it really helps if you pace your assignments and homework.
Think about it: some people may work well under a time crunch but is it worth it to be stressed and sleep deprived afterwards? Not to mention your work might not be at its best if you wait until the last minute to complete your assignments.
Instead, allow yourself a few days to a week to complete your assignments and create to-do lists for unfinished tasks.
A method I use is the Pomodoro method—a technique used to increase productivity when completing assignments.
Essentially, you set a timer for 25 minutes for work then 5 minutes for breaks. You repeat the process until you’re done with your assignments, so this way, you’re completing your work without feeling burnt out.
I use the Focus To-Do plugin.
Remember, it’s okay to seek help + guidance
One thing I’m learning to accept is that we don’t need to suffer in silence in fear that are problems are insignificant. Being in college/your early twenties is a difficult time for many. From navigating relationships to life changes, this time in our life is significant and the problems we face sometimes need guidance.
Academic burnout is something that doesn’t need to be blown off. Burnout can manifest itself as depression, severe anxiety, insomnia, and so much more.
Take care of yourself whether that be from practicing forms of self-care to reaching out for professional help. It may seem like a daunting task, but it’s worth it.
Have fun with your favorite things/people
This is probably the main thing that’s helped me deal with my academic burnout.
On the weekends, I love to clean my room while listening to music. It’s boring for some people, but for me it’s a way to relieve stress and bring myself back to earth. Another way I deal with burnout is simply spending time with the people I love.
I’m also getting back into blogging which has reminded me of how amazing the people who support my platform are. I’m thankful to have it and to interact with you all is all the reason I need to keep going amid burnout.
Not going to lie, academic burnout has stopped me from posting how I want to but I’m glad that I’ve used these tips to get back to a routine of doing the things I love. As a journalist, journalism has consumed my life a lot but an important thing I’ve learned while talking with reporters and editors is that you must have a life outside of the journalism world.
My life outside of it is here—with my friends, with my family, and with my blog.
So how will you live your life outside of academia?
Love this thank you so much Makenna 🫶🏽!!!
awww np!! thank you for reading!