If you are wondering how to recover from academic burnout, academic burnout can be a serious obstacle for new college students or those taking classes online, so understanding what it is and how to address it will enable students to get the most out of their college experience.
Burnout can result from multiple factors and its symptoms can differ for each student. For some it can take the form of exhaustion, frustration and losing interest in academics altogether; other times it could manifest in a different manner altogether.
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Change Your Routine
Those experiencing student burnout may no longer find pleasure in pursuing academic or extracurricular goals or activities, leading them to doubt their major or career choice and potentially questioning whether this path is worth following. This feeling may extend into social situations and cause them to question what path is best.
Burnout occurs when one feels overwhelmed by too many tasks and responsibilities, leading them to feel powerless over their environment. Recognizing symptoms such as low immunity or motivation is the first step toward recovery; then make some simple changes that will improve both mental and physical health such as learning how to say no, following a daily schedule, prioritizing your health needs, getting adequate rest as well as avoiding stimulants like caffeine and nicotine can all aid recovery.
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Practice Self-Care
Self-care practices can help alleviate symptoms associated with burnout and improve mental health. A great way to practice self-care is through meditation, taking breaks throughout the day and engaging in hobbies that you love.
Diet and sleep are both key components to improving one’s wellbeing, while an exercise program can also be invaluable in elevating mood.
Reconnect with why you started studying your subject initially and the goal that brought you there. It can be easy to lose track of why you started, particularly when work becomes overwhelming, but connecting with what drives your passion will help keep you more engaged and motivated, making academic burnout less of a burden and giving you more energy for things you enjoy doing in life.
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Get Professional Help
If you believe yourself or know someone is experiencing academic burnout, it is essential that they recognize it early and take steps to recover. Recognizing symptoms associated with student burnout as well as understanding its root cause will help avoid it entirely.
Signs of student burnout include low motivation levels, increased stress levels and feeling overwhelmed by academic demands. To combat these symptoms and avoid student burnout altogether, take time out of your schedule for activities you enjoy – this could include anything from playing with your dog to journaling – as well as practicing self-care by eating well, exercising regularly and getting enough restful sleep. Furthermore, reaching out for support through talking to a therapist or mental health provider may help in combatting academic burnout.
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Stay Social
Burnt out in academics can happen when students are overwhelmed and overburdened with multiple tasks. This may cause them to sacrifice other aspects of their lives such as not exercising enough, missing out on sleep and canceling social plans; furthermore they may feel uninspired and irritable while experiencing an increase in illness frequency.
One effective strategy to combat these symptoms is making time for rest. This may involve going to bed at roughly the same time each night, limiting alcohol intake and socializing in moderation with others. Furthermore, students should seek support from family, friends or mentors as this will keep them on their goals without abandonment.
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Set Realistic Goals
Planning daily tasks and weekly goals with an effective planner can help students manage their time more efficiently and avoid burnout. A planner also allows them to realize when their workload has become overwhelming and make necessary adjustments accordingly.
Consuming sufficient sleep and nutrition are vital in aiding student burnout recovery. Students should try to minimize distractions, practicing good sleep hygiene such as turning off electronics an hour before sleeping in a dark room with blackout curtains in place, etc.
Professor Jackson discovered that students should pursue their passions and study subjects that interest them, rather than compare themselves with peers when it comes to grades, as this can cause unnecessary anxiety if they fail to achieve higher marks. Recall past successes to remain motivated.