Mid-Semester Check In!
Classes, research, midterms, oh my!
The first half of this semester have flown by faster than I have been able to check the days off of my calendar. Suddenly, midterms are upon us and every college student - undergrads and grads alike - are feeling both the overwhelming workload that midterms bring with them as well as the inevitable mid-semester, zoom induced burnout.
If that paragraph resonated with you, then know that you are not alone. As hard as this semester (and quite frankly the last year) has been, the opportunity and privilege to learn and engage in an academic sphere is one that I will always be thankful for. However, thankfulness unfortunately does not equal happy, stress free days. In an attempt to approach this midterm season with a realistic attitude, I have created a list of questions to ask yourself when things are starting to feel a little too overwhelming and burnt out.
First things first - The Basics:
Are you hydrated?
Have you eaten?
Have you showered recently?
Have you gotten some kind of exercise in the past few days?
If it’s daytime - Are you dressed?
If it’s nighttime - Should you be sleeping?
Taking care of basic health and hygiene is obviously important, but as the amount of work we have to get through starts to pile up, it can feel less and less important to take care of ourselves. Simple and basic self-care actions will help you feel refreshed and ready to tackle the next item on your to-do list without feeling overwhelmed.
Next, let’s talk about schoolwork:
What have you been putting off the longest?
Do that first! It’s probably not as bad as you think it’s going to be so try getting it out of the way so you can focus on other assignments.Do you feel ineffective doing your schoolwork?
Tackle a small task first just to get started. Respond to an email, take a small chapter quiz, write two sentences, anything to get you started.Paralyzed by indecision? Don’t know what to work on? Getting stuck on a project?
Take a break! Set a timer for 15 minutes and do something else. Go for a walk, work on a different assignment, make yourself a snack. Do something else to give your mind a break.
Lastly, here are a few advanced questions to ask yourself when it really seems like your world is ending:
Have you seen a therapist recently?
If not, try to hang on until your next therapy visit and talk things through then, or go ahead and schedule an appointment with your school counselor if you aren’t established with a therapist yet. Prioritizing mental health is essential when it comes to tackling something as big as your education.
Have you changed any medications lately?
This may be affecting the way you feel and react to things. Give it a few days and make sure you consult with your doctor if things don’t settle down.
Have you been over-exerting yourself?
Pushing yourself too hard for too long leads to burnout. Whether you have been giving it your all intellectually, physically, emotionally or other, it is so incredibly important to rest. Taking regular breaks from studying, giving your body the rest it needs and engaging in simple and entertaining activities to rest your mind will prevent the dreaded burnout.
Hopefully keeping this list close by and handy will help you work through any difficult moments you may have with the impending midterms and/or mid-semester burnout. Learning how to best take care of yourself and listening to your body is a good skill to learn for life in general, but is central to getting the most out of your education.