Chill out and avoid burnout

SHANNON MUSTARD

Back in my first year at the University of Guelph, I was anxious and excited to participate in as many clubs and events as I could, while also excelling in my classes and building strong friendships with my classmates. Although these were attainable goals, they inevitably contributed to the self-induced pressure I experienced. Once midterms rolled around it was not long before I experienced my first burnout. According to Healthline, a burnout is when a person experiences chronic stress that leads to emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. A few common stressors university students may experience are multiple deadlines at once, conflict between classmates during a group project, and pressure on oneself to achieve high academic grades. Some of the symptoms that can arise from experiencing burnout are exhaustion or energy depletion, irritability, and self-isolation. If you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, you may begin to self-isolate from social events to provide yourself with some form of relief. An additional stress during these past two years was online learning as a result of COVID-19. In an article on burnout, Forbes states that “engagement, productivity, and growth are never sustainable without well-being.” Similar to the working world, it is extremely important to establish a maintainable work and school-life balance. Rather than trying to manage your time, it may be more important to focus on managing your energy and evaluate when your levels become too low.

If you are feeling exhausted, irritable, and withdrawn, you could be experiencing burnout. CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Although no one should have to experience burnout, it is common among university students, especially around midterm and exam periods. Luckily, there are numerous ways to cope. One of the most effective ways is to avoid overscheduling yourself. An important lesson I learned during my time at the U of G is that it is okay to miss an intramural game, club meeting, or social event occasionally. As a student, your mental, physical and emotional well-being is priority above everything else. Another tip is to take regular breaks. Although there is sometimes a negative stereotype associated with someone who takes numerous breaks, i.e. they are lazy, Pierce College Psychology Professor Marty Lobdell stated in a lecture that it is more effective to take shorter five to 10 minute breaks every 45 minutes to an hour rather than working for two to three hours straight. This can improve your focus, and your brain will be less likely to associate a negative feeling or dislike towards the task at hand. University can be an amazing experience. With some helpful tips, you will have no trouble navigating your way through this new journey. Guelph’s campus offers a variety of student health services that focus specifically on mental well-being, along with stress busters that are held around exam periods. Best of luck as you enter another year of university, or if you are only just beginning, welcome to Guelph!