It’s that time of year again. At least for me, I’m at my lowest point of the year. I don’t know what will happen during this time. It’s like a combination of the stress of a new semester, with AP tests, club competitions, and/or other responsibilities coming up. Anyhow, it’s exhausting to think that we still have months before school finally ends. However, we must face the inevitable, and during that process, it is important to not get burned out.
Here’s symptoms a burnt out student might have:
- Frequent headaches or increased pain due to tension
- Feelings of depression
- Nausea or other digestive distress
- Irritability, frustration, or hostility
- Falling academic performance
- Reduced confidence in one’s academic abilities or decline in self-esteem
- Increased absences from school
- Lack of interest in once enjoyable activities
- Inability to focus at school, home, or work
- Self-destructive or self-harm behavior
- Withdrawing from family members and friends
Well How Can I Prevent Burnout? Good question: Here are so solutions:
- Set priorities and put activities on pause. A Lot of the time, students put way more on their plate than they can handle. Some activities don’t really need to happen. Evaluate what you have to do, what you want to do, and what you don’t really have to do. Do what you have to do first, and if you get to the rest, great. If you don’t, that’s fine.
- Make time for rest and sleep. Rest and sleep are very important in our body’s function. Try to take ten minutes of rest for every hour to have you perform your best. If you don’t, you might not perform your best. Sleep is also very important for the human body to recover. The average person needs 7 hours of sleep for maximum productivity.
- Spend time outdoors. Ensuring that students have opportunities to spend time outdoors is crucial because research indicates that it can reduce stress and anxiety, elevate mood, and enhance overall well-being. Encouraging outdoor activities, such as nature walks or outdoor learning sessions, can greatly benefit students’ mental and physical health.
- Avoid procrastination. I get it, it always sounds fabulous to push things back right now so we can have a break. However, even though we want a small period of rest, it’s better off for us if we spread our tasks more evenly.
- Good nutrition. It’s no secret, you are what you eat(at least in some sense). If you eat garbage all day, your body will start to become like that. Try eating fruits and veggies, lean meats, and whole grains. Also try to eat a variety of foods for different vitamins and nutrients.
If you or someone you know is experiencing academic burn-out or depression, help is available.
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