3 Effective Strategies To Deal With Academic Burnout

Academic burnout is a very real issue for many people, regardless of how far they are in their academic journey.

And sadly, for many students, burnout in school can actually signal the end of their studies.

Particularly if they don’t know the tools to overcome academic burnout.

Which is why, in this post, I want to talk about some strategies that you can employ to effectively deal with this issue.

And perhaps even avoid it in the first place.

But before I get into those strategies, I want to answer a few questions that many people ask in regards to this topic.

What Causes Academic Burnout?

There are many things that can cause academic burnout. But there are a few common ones.

One of the largest factors that can contribute to burning out in school is simply having an overwhelming amount of work to do.

But other factors include things like not taking proper care of yourself or having stressful situations occurring outside of school.

What Are the Signs of Academic Burnout?

Academic burnout can affect people in a variety of ways, ranging from mental symptoms to physical ones!

Mentally, a burnt-out student may suffer from a lack of motivation, an inability to focus, and of course, decreased performance in school.

Physically, many students suffering from academic burnout report feeling fatigued and even suffering from insomnia due to stress.

How Common Is Academic Burnout?

Although there aren’t global statistics for burnout in school, many studies have found that a large majority of students experience at least a little burnout at some point.

So it’s safe to say that it’s a fairly common issue among academics.

And the chances you’ll experience it will increase if you don’t know how to deal with negative feelings regarding your studies.

Which is the perfect transition into the strategies I want to discuss today…

How To Deal With Academic Burnout

1. Work On Your Time Management

Academic burnout can be caused by feeling overwhelmed, not having enough time for yourself, etc.

But with the proper scheduling, you could begin to work through those issues.

So in order to get your studies back on track, it’s important that you improve your time management. This article by Einstein states that this step is “essential”.

Depending on what your current schedule looks like, you may need to make anything from a few small adjustments to several large ones.

The important thing is that you form a schedule where you can complete your work, while still being able to take time to relax.

For instance, things that could help might include… cutting down on procrastination, scheduling breaks in between study sessions, etc.

2. Make Sure To Take Care Of Yourself

Reducing your feelings of stress can directly treat your burnout, so one of the best things you can do to treat this issue is to pay attention to your needs.

Make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water, eating well, and getting enough sleep! And if possible, exercise could also help to improve your mental and physical health.

With proper time management, you should be able to make time for these things. But only if you use your breaks wisely.

As an example, if you have a fifteen-minute break coming up and you’re hungry… then resist the urge to sit and scroll through your phone as many of us do nowadays.

Instead, go and make yourself a healthy snack that will nourish your body and give you the energy you need to complete your studying session.

Making these simple decisions to give yourself what you need, and not just what you want, could lead to you feeling better in the long run.

Of course, you should try to make time for things you simply enjoy, regardless of what it is. But you always need to prioritize your health and well-being.

3. Don’t Be Afraid To Look For Help

Sometimes, we need outside support to get through something we’re facing. And academic burnout is no different.

It’s entirely possible that you’re so burnt out that you need help from someone, and there’s no shame in that.

Help can be found in many different places. You could potentially get the support you need from friends, family members, and loved ones.

Or you could consider talking to a school counselor, or even a therapist.

Regardless of who you choose to talk to, you may be surprised with how effective it is to talk things through and get your issues off your chest!

And of course, these people can help you in other ways as well.

Through their neutral point of view, they’ll likely be able to suggest courses of action that may help, among other helpful opinions.

Can You Recover From Academic Burnout?

It’s absolutely possible to recover from burning out in school, especially if you take into account the tips I’ve shared today.

But I also want to note that all of the things I talked about today can also help you avoid it in the first place.

Good time management, a healthy amount of self-care, and support from others can help you to complete your studies without ever feeling the impact of burnout.