Student Blog: Combating Burnout

As this semester rapidly comes to a close, burnout is spreading like wildfire across the entirety of the campus. I am the type of person who enjoys living my life with a very busy, structured schedule. This has always been a lifestyle that has been very beneficial and motivating for me...until it's not. Because we are all human, everyone gets to a point where the rose colored glasses begin to slip and the reality of how overwhelming everything truly is sets in. In their typical nature, when fine arts students reach this point, they continue to move forward, believing themselves too busy to do anything but that (myself included, of course), which leads to burnout over enough time. Trying to push forward through the burnout just doesn't work out this time...so what next?

This is the point where you have to pause. Stop briefly and assess. Holding the belief that there is no time or too much to get done to stop is more damaging than letting some responsibilities briefly pass by. Self assessing the pressure, stress, and burnout you are experiencing and seeking out the source of it is one of the most beneficial actions you can take for yourself. The first step in healing is recognizing what's wrong and why it has impacted you.

Prioritizing the things you love in leisure is just as important as prioritizing the things you love in an educational or career sense. Learning to balance the two healthily and knowing when to turn to the things you love in leisure will help with de-stressing and actively combating burnout. Whether it be hanging out with friends, gaming, working out, whatever; set aside the time for it.

I often find, no matter how resistant I may be to it sometimes, that talking to someone can help so much. Speaking the feelings you are experiencing into existence gets them out into the world rather than trapped in your head to inevitably stay on loop in your thoughts. Even speaking the words, "I am feeling burnt out," can be so relieving to admit, though it may be difficult to get to that point. Additionally, chances are that the person you are opening up to has felt similar ways and may have words of wisdom, or simply just empathy to offer.

Taking all of what I have written into account, the thing that has to be remembered, above all else, is that you are human. I am human, we are all human. We make mistakes and get burnt out and there's nothing wrong with that. It's okay to feel negative emotions, towards the things you love, towards yourself, or otherwise. It will pass and it will get better. It's good to remember that things will improve, but don't restrict yourself from feeling the bad emotions coursing through you in the moment.