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how to avoid burnout at uni

hello everyone, I am in my second year of uni and I've noticed that by the end of semester 1 (sept to dec) I'm burnt out like crazy, to the point where my grades get affected. any tips on how to not get such severe burnout? x

Reply 1

jonathanemptage

This may sound counter intuitive but have you considered maybe your working too hard? It could be that your over doing it your tired. Time management and scheduling would help here. I mean still work and do the assignments but don’t stress about as much as I suspect you’re doing . Like if you have a 2000 word essay to do aim for like 500 words a day instead of panicking at the end and trying to do it all in a day or so it’s all about timing. Also make sure you have something to do that isn’t course related be it video games or football or something go out with your mates and stuff too uni is all about a work life balance.

Reply 2

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Hi!

I am sorry to hear that. I know what you are going through :yep:

. It is getting hard after a few intense months of learning when the assessment period starts.

My top tip is to take a break and give yourself 'fresh air'. Pushing yourself will not lead to effective work. On the contrary, it will get only worse, as you will get burnout even more. That is why, there is no point in wasting time in that way. Instead, give yourself a day or two to enjoy yourself, do some things that bring pleasure, have a proper sleep and rest. Recharging batteries is the best way to come back to effective work.

I hope that helps :h:

If there is anything else I could help you with, please do let me know!

Take care,

Julia

Reply 3

UoS PG students

Official Rep

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are feeling this way, it can be difficult to manage everything at uni - even after four years I still find it hard!
I have some tips which are similar to those in the comment above.

- Make sure that you aren't stressing yourself out worrying about assignments and exams and lecture content etc... Give yourself a reasonable To-do list for each day and stick to it. If you feel like you can do more, then do it, but if not, you've completed everything you set out to do! Celebrate the small achievements.

- Make time for other things unrelated to your degree. Whether this is socialising with friends, taking part in societies, or even just allocating yourself some much-needed alone time to wind down. I also like to make sure I have allocated time to cook proper meals/meal prep and stay on top of my laundry/cleaning etc.. as this is something that makes me feel like I've got all my stuff together.

- I would also suggest that doing some form of exercise can be really grounding. Whether you want to go out running or swimming, or if you are part of a sports society or something. Although it seems like it would make you more tired, it can be a really good way of loosening up and taking a breather away from academia.

- As boring as it sounds and as difficult as it can be at uni when you probably want to be going out late etc.. make sure you are getting enough regular sleep! I have only recently learnt that I need a solid 9 hours of sleep to avoid becoming more and more tired until I eventually have some kind of emotional, sleep-deprived breakdown! I have heard though, that it isn't so much the amount of sleep that you are getting, but the regularity of it which is important, so stick to some kind of routine like 11pm-7am. Obviously, still go out and have fun but maybe allow yourself the extra bit of sleep the next day and make sure you have taken steps so you won't be stressed about catching up with work etc.

- Contact the student support team at your university (or any members of staff you feel you can talk to) as they will be more than happy to help you if you are struggling. Nobody wants you to be having a hard time so there will be things they can do to make it easier for you :smile:

I hope this helps,

Abbie
University of Southampton, Postgraduate Ambassador

Reply 4

University of Sunderland Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by zalishmalikk

Hi there,

Burnout definitely affects us all! For me personally I found it helpful to keep on top of all of my work by doing a little bit every day instead of having to do loads at the weekend etc. That meant that I still had time to myself in the week and at weekends to do things I enjoyed.
Hobbies definitely help, make sure you don't give up on those for uni, it helps to go and do something you enjoy which isn't uni work.

Make sure you take effective breaks, get outside and get some fresh air, it definitely helps.

I hope this helps,

Ellen
Y3 Medical Student
University of Sunderland
Digital Ambassador

Reply 5

YSJstudents

Official Rep

Hey,

Sorry to hear about the feeling of burnout. I find doing little bits of work often helps me. I also keep a reading log with key points quotes and references (helps when it comes to writing essays)

Other than that I try to get enough sleep and make sure I get out for a walk/run.

I hope this helps

Rebecca YSJ Student Ambassador

Reply 6

ARUStudents

Official Rep

Hello, sorry to hear you are feeling this way. I create a plan for my next module with small targets on what needs completing and when. I find studying in small doses is far more effective than longer sessions. I like to use the university facilities for study so I know that is the time I should be working and home I will do some work but make sure I have tome for friends and family also. At my university there is a great SU and wellbeing team where you can become involved in events and activities for downtime. Studying is also about making sure you are taking care of yourself as well. If you are finding you are studying to burnout contact your study skills team and personal tutor as they me able to give you some tips on how to study more effectively for the module you are on.
Good luck
ARU Dee
Student digital ammbassador.

Reply 7

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by zalishmalikk

Hi there @zalishmalikk !
I always find that when i've burnt myself out, it's because I'm doing more in one time slot than my body can handle. I like to integrate other things that I like to do inbetween my studying. For example, I get up mid-morning and get some work in before lunch, but I make sure I'm taking a proper break away from the area that I was working in during lunch and then after lunch I'll follow it up with something I like to do such as going to the gym. Then after that, I'll try and get some more work done. The key is to not put so much pressure on yourself to cram information in and integrate none work-related things into your day. It also doesn't help to put yourself on too much of a strict routine. Try and revise in different places and not too late at night because you will end up burning yourself out and won't retain any of the information. I would also suggest not just going through this by yourself. Confide in your friends and talk to them about ways they don't burn themselves out. You're definitely not alone in this and they may be able to help you in ways you can't help yourself.

Hope this helped!
Lucy - Digital Student Ambassador SHU

Reply 8

University of Kent Reps

Official Rep

Original post by zalishmalikk

Hi there

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. It can be difficult to find a balance at uni in order to avoid burnout but sometimes it all comes down to listening to your mind and body. I personally work best when I have a routine in place as I find myself being more productive. That being said I cant count the number of times that my timetable has said to revise this module or do this lecture and my brain has just not wanted to do it. Whilst i'm not saying to stop working, it is important to recognise the early signs of burnout so that you can try and combat them. These signs look different for everyone and it takes time to get to know your burnout symptoms. For me, my body hints at burnout before my mind does. I often get sore throats and aching backs when im very stressed and if I don't give my body a break then I get unwell for longer periods of time. This ends up meaning that I miss more work and become even more stressed. My advice is to try and spot the early signs of burnout and combat them by doing something that you enjoy or find relaxing. If you're really struggling to concentrate or are feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work you have then just stop for a while. Humans are wired to keep working until they burnout but sometimes real productivity comes from taking a break and coming back to it later.

Here are some ideas on what you can do to de-stress/combat early signs of burnout:
- Go outside (on a walk, to the shops, sit in a park or field etc)
- Do some exercise ( helps release endorphins)
- Change your working environment (maybe go to the local library or find a cafe in town)
- Find a hobby that you find relaxing e.g. yoga, painting, reading, dancing etc
- Meditation!! (This is so beneficial for stress and burnout)
- Balance work life with social life ( make plans with friends even if its just a movie night where you can completely switch off from work)
- Talk to the wellbeing team at your uni (they will likely have some really good advice for managing stress)
- Talk to your friends and family and let them know how you're feeling

Hope this helps a bit

Best wishes
Joanna
-Uni of Kent Rep

Reply 9

University of Huddersfield

Official Rep

@zalishmalikk

Making time to rest is as important as studying.

It is easy to feel guilty about resting and to feel like if you are not working, you are wasting valuable time when you can be finishing this off, going over something else or reading ahead. There will always be something more that you can do, so having boundaries for work and rest is essential.

By having things scheduled into your diary e.g. societies, this can help you take the breaks that you need, to spend time away from your studies and to give your mind a rest. You need to be realistic with how many societies you are involved in and the commitment level required to get the most out of them, but if you have one or two that you attend regularly this will help you take breaks from your work during the week.

Each week, I also take a whole day off. This helps me to stop. I look forward to this day because I know that I can just rest. I try not to think about studies or things I need to do the next day. I just focus on resting and being spiritually, physically and mentally refreshed. I find that I really look forward to this day (when I am feeling stressed) and that it encourages me to work harder leading up to this day, as I know that I am going to rest! I feel like taking this day off helps me find the energy I need for a new week.

Rest is so good for you! Of course, there is the extreme of resting all the time and not doing any work, but that's not the problem you are experiencing. The problem you are facing is being at the other extreme, where you are working non-stop!

Rest!

Have a great summer and all the best for your next academic year,

Oluwatosin – 2nd year student – University of Huddersfield

Reply 10

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by zalishmalikk

Hi @zalishmalikk I when through the exact same situation at the end of my first semester first year. What I would recommend doing is setting goals for each module and what you want to achieve by each week this will help to give you focus over a period of time rather than trying to do it all at once. I would also recommend having a few social activities, whether that be with friends or family, give yourself a well deserved break. Hope this Helps!

Gurpej Kaur(Student Rep)

Reply 11

De Montfort University

Official Rep