How to avoid burnout at college

Ryan Korstange, Middle Tennessee State University

How to avoid burnout in college

Recent research has shown burnout affects students in a number of ways. Here is a list of tips on how to avoid burnout at college.

Burnout is a stress-related state of exhaustion and often leads to feelings of isolation, low accomplishment, and even depression. Although research has long shown that burnout affects employees, we now know burnout also affects students. As a researcher who specializes in identifying strategies to help college students get through their first year of college, here are my five top tips on how to avoid burnout at college.

Five tips on how to avoid burnout at college

1. Start with why you at college

Intrinsic motivation – the idea that learning is naturally satisfying – is associated with lower levels of academic burnout and with higher academic achievement. The most effective way of preventing burnout is being sure you know why you’re in college, to begin with. Build your internal motivation by identifying the skills you need to develop and the experiences you want to have while you are in college.

2. Visualize your work and progress

Use the syllabus and other resources to get a full picture of the projects you have and their deadlines. Use to-do lists, calendars and apps to remind you of the work you have to accomplish and celebrate small wins along the way.

3. Work a little every day

High-impact learning requires the investment of time and effort and deliberate practice and self-regulation. However, the majority of incoming college students spent less than 10 hours per week studying in high school and need to learn to put in a more sustained effort. Moreover, the study practices that college students use most commonly – highlighting or underlining notes, reading material over and over, and summarizing class content – are the least effective.

Take advantage of the learning strategies that have proven to be most effective. Spread your study time out over days rather than cramming. Actively retrieve the material you are learning using flashcards or practice tests, rather than passively reading and rereading information.

Read more: How to get birth control in college

4. Take breaks regularly

Since burnout is related to stress, it is important to manage stress carefully. Exercise, proper nutrition, social interaction, and quality sleep are each part of a productive coping strategy. In addition, breaks help restore your focus on your overarching goals, increase creativity and improve memory formation.

5. Keep the end in mind

Parts of college are simply stressful and difficult. But in the end, graduation from college remains economically beneficial. Additionally, the knowledge and skills you gain while in college have lasting and wide-ranging benefits in your work and personal life – like living longer, making more money and passing those benefits on to your children.