Overcoming End-of-the-Year Burnout

Homework begins piling up. The icy puddles outside of the residential hauls soak your shoes. Clubs pick up speed as if you’ve never left. After a nice, relaxing break, we are all thrown back into the intense schedule of school but have to adjust to new classes, teachers, and routines. Perhaps this was exciting at first, but midway through the semester, the second-semester burnout has been real. Although we would all rather lay in our dorms after a long day at school and ignore our growing pile of responsibilities, here are some tips to reignite your motivation this semester. 

Remember your goals/purpose

Consider what drove you at the start of the year as one strategy to avoid second-semester burnout. You were probably eager to start the new year and motivated to work hard and resist the urge to put off important duties.

Remember why you chose to be where you are now and what you need to do to have a good second semester. It will be simpler to concentrate on your goals if you are able to recall why you chose to be where you are and your goals.

Create a schedule

Staying on schedule can be the most helpful tool if you have many responsibilities and often forget tasks. Use your Google Calendar, a physical or digital planner, sticky notes, or whatever works for you. Ensuring that you plan everything, maybe even when you want to eat dinner, can make sure you take care of yourself while also accomplishing your goals. It might even help you realize you don’t have time for everything, and that is okay. From there, you can reevaluate your commitments and contact the necessary people to make sure you have enough time in your day.

Focus on physical health

When trying to take care of our mental health, we often forget to look into our physical health and what our bodies need. Taking a walk outside, going to the gym, and even joining an unofficial lunar dance can help you move and release endorphins in your brain. Sometimes, taking a break by exercising can help you simply take your mind off of the stressors that are adding to your burnout. 

Physical health also entails what you eat. Make sure you have time to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as snacks if you get hungry. Find food that fuels you throughout the day and doesn’t make you feel sleepy or too full. 

Try a new study technique

Burnout is usually related to school. Sometimes finding a new way to study can help motivate you to keep working. Here are some new study strategies to use this semester. Whether you enjoy the Pomodoro technique or colored flashcards, a new technique might be the best way for you to find motivation for the rest of the school year. 

Although the second semester brings challenges, think of the longer days, warmer weather, and fun events ahead!