Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out with this everyone!
My main challenge at uni was getting over the feeling that I should be working all the time - this is absolutely not the only thing uni is about!
My tips for not burning out from my experience:
Having a Google Calendar - block out sessions where you would like to get some work done, and colour code them per module to make sure you're staying on track with each module. You can also use this to block out a couple of hours at a time when you want to focus on yourself, such as taking some time to meet friends, go to town, meet with a society or just chill.
Working part time as a student ambassador - meant that I could sign up for shifts around my study sessions. I really enjoyed this work as it was a lot of fun and I had many friends who also did the role, and we'd often end up working together. In a way having this job forced me to be organised as it meant that I had to prioritise my uni work.
Be strict with yourself and understand that its okay to feel uncomfortable - if you take some time off, its understandable that it might feel uncomfortable if you're prone to putting a lot of pressure on yourself. Please know that it is okay and having time to yourself between working will do you a lot of good, maintaining your motivation and protecting you from burning out. Be strict with yourself by making sure that you have a couple of hours of protected time each week to do something other than your work, or having a set time when you clock off for the day as setting boundaries for yourself also helps protect you from overworking.
I hope this helps a bit - best of luck this year!
Holly
University of Bath