It’s about that time of year again. Students are back from a Thanksgiving holiday that gave them a taste of what it felt like not to focus on school every hour. However, all Stevens students have to come back to campus knowing that there is still work to do and finals are looming. As we are over 12 weeks into the semester, it can be tough to muster any effort to get work done. This concept of burnout is common among almost every student and it will only get worse as the semester goes on, but burnout can be lessened with a few tactics.
After being in school for so long, we all have reasonable motives to be exhausted. You have to know that your friends are experiencing it too. The best way to get work done, especially at this point of the semester, is to work together where possible. Not only do you both need to get the assignment done, but outside input also provides a quicker result. You both are working toward the same goal. It’ll lessen the load on certain occasions and help your burnt out brain get through work.
Next step, learn to say no to the unnecessary. It’s crunch time. Only do things that you enjoy and can relax in your free time. When your friend approaches you about that movie that was just released or the party that is going on, evaluate first if you have time for that or just need rest. Rest is necessary for success, especially when the semester becomes most stressful. You must always prioritize what is most important for you and your health.
When I don’t take care of myself, I tend to get sick. These are commonly the times when I experience high stress and don’t take the time for myself. It’s my body’s way of forcing me to stop. You never want to take a final or an exam when you are sick. Even more frequently, I get a stomach ache due to the stress of exams and projects. After the exam, there’s a large moment of peace and calm, but the stress damage is already done. For some people, there’s no mitigating the stress of these exams, but you can lessen the stress of everything else (e.g. assignments and extracurricular activities).
Other destressors to help burn out at the conclusion of the semester include taking a walk or going to midnight breakfast. Hoboken is an area where contemplation is easy and common, especially by the water. Take advantage of it. Midnight Breakfast is in the midst of a finals period with high stress, but go with friends, eat food, and get your mind off of everything.
As college students, it is extremely difficult to overcome burnout and it always will be. As a senior, I have found these methods to be extremely helpful and useful to utilize. Just remember; as the semester winds down, every final, every test, and every assignment is just one step closer to graduation. I know for some of you, graduation may be far away, but at least you will be closer to the end than you were at the start of the year.
Everyone must learn how to find their peace during these times to fight through the stress and burnout, two main obstacles at the end of the semester. Let’s push through together, instead of separately.
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