There comes a time in the semester when every college student has hit their limit. When all you want to do is lie back, relax, and do nothing but stare at your phone. But the semester isn’t over yet.
When it feels like you’re drowning in work with no free time in sight, what do you do? First, realize you aren’t alone. Dozens of students at ETSU and across the U.S. struggle with burnout, physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. Burnout is typically brought on by long-term stress and pressure, which many college students deal with.
Think about it for a second: if you’re stressed, what do you typically do to calm yourself down or distract yourself from whatever’s stressing you out? Most people nowadays turn to their phones and social media. It’s hard not to sound like a broken record here, but believe me when I say doomscrolling cannot fix you when you’re burnt out. I’ve tried, trust me: it works for an hour or two, then you’re miserable again.
Okay, doomscrolling aside, let’s consider practical steps you can take to manage burnout. Sometimes, the best cure is to step away from it all. What I mean by that is consider doing something that forces you to think about something else entirely: go on a hike; take some time to explore all the local businesses in downtown Johnson City (and do some holiday shopping for your friends and family while you’re at it!). Take a dance class at the CPA or go on an outdoor adventure trip (more information on both of those can be found at etsu.edu/students/campusrec). Taking a couple of hours or a day to focus all of your attention on something that isn’t school-related does wonders for your brain.
Once you’ve had your day of fun, look at the big picture. Focus on the size of your assignments in relation to their due dates. If you’ve got free time in between classes to tackle something small, take it! Time management doesn’t always mean elaborate planners and well-thought-out study schedules. Sometimes it’s just utilizing the time and energy you have in the moment to get something, anything, done rather than nothing.
Also, ask for help from your professors, your friends, the Counseling Center, your family, etc. Whoever you feel comfortable asking, ask them for help if you need it. Ask for that extension, for that all-day study marathon in the library, schedule that counseling appointment. Asking for help when you’re burnt out should not make you feel ashamed. Get some sleep, too. Seriously. A good night’s sleep can majorly help you when you’re stressed, and it plays a big role in academic performance, too.
Lastly, don’t compare yourself to others. If you’re on social media, you’re probably comparing your life to someone else’s, even if you don’t mean to. You’re doing a good job. Trust yourself. The semester will be over before you even realize it.
