Student Blog: Burnout: How Do We Deal With It?

Hello everyone! Happy happy back-to-school season! If you didn't already know, I attend the University of Michigan where I study Business Administration, and we just started classes last Monday (8/26), so things are in full swing over here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’m taking 15 credits this semester, and I am involved in three different clubs and hold leadership positions in two of them. I ALSO started a part-time job where I’ll be working at our campus bookstore a few days a week (the money struggle is real, friends). What this comes down to is that my schedule is PACKED for the semester, and it’s only week 2! And when things get busy on top of the already-stressful levels of schoolwork and exams, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and start to burn out.

I’m not going to lie, by the end of freshman year last April, the burnout was absolutely real. I was finishing my first full year away from home, overcoming a semester-long sickness, and studying every single day for finals. I was READY to be done and ready to head home, so going into my sophomore year, I’ve been asking myself what I’m going to do to prevent such extreme burnout. Especially now that I’m involved in even more on-campus activities and organizations, as well as harder classes, what can I do to ensure that I’m staying happy and healthy? Upon this reflection, I have compiled a list of my top 5 tips for preventing (and dealing with) burnout as a college student. Read below!

1. REST

This might seem obvious (and maybe impossible) but I absolutely cannot stress it enough- serious rest is what will get you through the semester! In college, it’s a lot of late nights and early mornings which, when added up, leads to a lot of tiredness. Due to my business fraternity's new member requirements as well as other commitments, there weren’t many nights that I would get back to my dorm before 10pm (this isn’t meant to scare you, it’s just how it is for a lot of college students. And your experience might be completely different from mine!). Because of this, block some down time into your schedule, whether that’s for watching your favorite show, reading a book, or even just taking a nap. Making time for these relaxing activities will provide you with the energy and motivation to get back up later and continue being the academic weapon I know you are.

2. Join fun clubs and organizations, not just professional ones

Especially at U of M, there is a lot of pressure to join professional clubs relating to consulting, finance, professional fraternities, and more. The recruitment processes for them are incredibly daunting and time consuming, and their acceptance rate is typically very low. It can seem intimidating, and while being in these clubs is extremely helpful (I will be forever grateful I joined my business frat), I also cannot stress enough how important it is to join clubs just for FUN!! I had this realization last semester, after I got rejected from three different consulting clubs. The rejection hurt, and at first I felt like it meant I was falling behind. However, I soon realized I was putting too much pressure on myself to only be in those professional clubs, and this was the perfect opportunity to join something a little more fun. This led me to the decision to apply to be an Associate Producer for Rude Mechanicals, a theatre group on campus! I immediately loved the people and had some great conversations, eventually got the position, and we actually just announced our 2024-25 season yesterday! (Go check it out on Instagram @umrudes). All of this to say, I am extremely content in all of the groups I ended up in, and by joining clubs that are fun and not just professional, it will make your workload much less intense and well-rounded.

3. Go out!

Let me be real for a minute. I’m not a party person, or I wasn’t until I got to college. I’m not very extroverted and never really went to parties in high school, so the college party scene intimidated me at the start of my freshman year. And while I do still get some party anxiety, it turns out they can actually be a lot of fun! One I made sure that I was going out with people I trusted and felt safe with, it wasn’t as scary, and it’s a fun way to get out of the house and have fun with your friends. And if going out isn’t for you (which I completely understand), there are so many other fun events being put on by your school basically every weekend, which I also recommend checking out!

4. Don’t put too much on your plate

There is so much happening at college. Every. Single. Day. And it’s all so fun and new and exciting and you just want to be a part of it! It’s so easy to write your name down on a club’s email list or say yes to a party or event happening that night, and while it seems like a good idea at the time, you’ll soon realize that those things start to add up. So as you start this new school year (no matter what grade you’re entering), be mindful of the things you’re committing to. Be sure that they’re groups or activities that will bring you joy and fill you up, because that will make it so much easier to give your all to them throughout the semester.

5. Physical activity

Let me be very clear, I am not a physical activity person. (I quit cross country my freshman year of high school.) However, when the workload got to be too much last semester and I just needed an hour to clear my head, exercise is actually what helped me a lot. Running a mile or two on the treadmill, taking a long walk, or even doing some mindful stretching was a great way to relax and reground myself. And the best part is, you don’t need to be running 10+ miles or lifting 50 pound weights for it to work! Just find what works best for you, and build your routine from there.

There you have it! My top 5 tips for preventing and dealing with burnout as a college student. While all five probably won’t apply to everyone, I hope you found at least some part of this helpful! College is hard, and things are going to happen that will make you feel defeated. But please, PLEASE do not give up! You’ve got this, and you are going to conquer this semester!

Peace and love,

Natalie

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