Although there are so many perks that come with being at university, there’s no denying that it can be stressful. At times, students may find themselves overwhelmed with work which could lead to burnout. WebMD define burnout as a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped and a result of excessive and prolonged emotional, physical, and mental stress.
According to Mental Health UK, the signs of burnout include:
- Feeling tired or drained most of the time
- Feeling helpless, trapped and/or defeated
- Feeling detached/alone in the world
- Having a cynical/negative outlook
- Self-doubt
- Procrastinating and taking longer to get things done
- Feeling overwhelmed
This article will include ways to avoid burnout and how to deal with the stress that university may bring.
Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep each night has a bigger impact than you may realise. According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Getting enough sleep each night can help you feel less tired and drained and may help you to focus better on your work.
Don’t leave assignments until the last minute
Leaving work until the day before can cause huge amounts of pressure and stress. A simple way to avoid this is by doing it long before it’s due. Get to the root cause of why you’re leaving it until the last minute; is it because you procrastinate? Is it because you are struggling? Is it because you forget it’s due? Finding out the reason is the starting point to resolving the issue. If you’re struggling with the workload, you could speak to one of your academic advisors. Planning ahead can help if you find yourself procrastinating or forgetting about it, which leads onto the next point…
Plan ahead
A good tip is to plan your week every Sunday evening. This gives you a chance to reset and will give you peace of mind that you know what is happening in the upcoming week. Having some sort of academic diary or calendar can help with this. You could plan what work you’re going to do, what meals you’re going to eat and who you’re going to see. It will make the week run a lot more smoothly if you know what you need to get done.
Find the balance
Finding the balance at university is so important. Although it’s important to focus on studying, remember it’s also important to have a social life and time to yourself. Find out the ways you like to de-stress; it might be spending time with friends, reading, running etc. Implement this into your week to avoid burning out.
Speak to someone
If you are really struggling, it’s always best to speak to someone. Whether this be someone you trust such as a family member or a friend, or a professional, it’s good to know you’re not alone. BU have a support page on their website that you can use if you need to speak to someone.