7 ways to fight burnout
As mentioned in my previous article, burnout is quite common among students, especially by the end of the year. According to a study conducted by the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), 22.3% of students had a high level of emotional exhaustion and 17.9% of students had a high level of reduced academic efficacy. Both of these symptoms reference burnout, showing how much of a global phenomenon this has become. However, the most important angle on this topic is how can one fight or overcome burnout? Here are 7 ways to do it.
1. Routines: When experiencing burnout it is important to stick to a routine, to keep control. Creating a daily routine including activities that one may like or find interesting is important to rediscover the joy these things can bring us when being in such a low state of mind. Also, keep in mind that you don't want to overwhelm yourself further. Try keeping things simple and easy, avoiding big changes that may derail one’s routine.
2. Schedule free time: In conjunction with the previous way to fight burnout, it is also immensely helpful to schedule time to rest. When creating a routine in a stage of burnout minimalism is necessary and free time is essential. This helps avoid procrastination and overloading oneself with responsibilities.
3. Focus on finding harmony: When feeling burnt out it is also good to search for harmony in one's life. Similar to finding a routine that fits your lifestyle, take on things that you enjoy, even if these are small things like lighting a candle while doing homework. Find harmony in the sense of having your days run smoothly while you focus on recovering.
4. Unplug vacations: A way to completely disconnect from reality could be taking a vacation. This may be difficult for many, especially as students' vacations can even lead to more stress with the build-up of homework. However, even if you can’t completely disconnect by changing settings, you can try taking a vacation from social media or something similar.
5. Habits/hobbies: Take on new hobbies. Try something new, something small that interests you. This can help relieve stress. Focusing on things that we find interesting can also take our minds off those things that have us burnt out.
6. Exercise: Working out can be an example of a stress-relieving habit/hobby. It has been scientifically proven that exercise releases endorphins, which are the hormones that induce happiness. Consequently, working out or participating in some type of physical activity can clear your mind and even bring you joy.
7. Live mindfully: This last tip is not exactly something to do temporarily. Living mindfully is a lifestyle, by this, I mean that we should learn to be mindful of our individual impact on the world
