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Breaking through the burnout

Let’s face it. It’s April. As student, we are not as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as we once were (say, in August). In fact, many of you may be experiencing a bit of academic burnout. Symptoms may include fatigue, acute stress and difficulty with time management. Heck, I even turned this article in late.

 

            Here’s the good news: there is little over a month left in the semester. You can do this. In the meantime, here are a few tips to help you get through this last stretch.

 

  1. It’s never too late to start planning.

Get a planner if you don’t have one already. Alternatively, keep an updated to-do list on your phone. Keep track of everything you need to get done in the next two weeks. Though this may seem a bit extensive, just bear with me. The semester will be over before we know it, and planning in advance can really help with divvying out your workload. The last thing you need on a Friday afternoon is he realization that you’ve got two research papers, three quizzes and four discussion boards due over the weekend.

 

  1. While you’re at it, plan out a few breaks.

I cannot stress enough how critical it is to take breaks. Procrastinating all day and pulling all-nighters will only make the burnout worse. However, make sure to take breaks strategically. Set small goals for yourself, and then reward yourself with a break only after you have accomplished these goals. Tell yourself that after you’ve accomplished at least three items on your to-do list, you’ll have dinner with a friend or watch something on Netflix. Remember: What’s more important than setting goals is sticking with them.

 

  1. Hide your phone. Hide your ‘Flix.

Stop lying to yourself. There will never be “just one more episode.” After your break is over, hide your phone. Log out of Netflix. Use parental blocks on your laptop to help you stay away from Facebook and Twitter if you have to. Do whatever it takes to minimize the amount of distractions (i.e. notifications) coming your way while you work. Less distractions leads to more concentration, and more concentration leads to less and less on your to-do list.

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