How can students recover from burnout? 

Studying is hard work, and it can definitely take its toll. Student burnout often presents itself when students do not have time to recharge or escape from the stress of school demands and achievement pressure.

If you’re a student, or a parent of a student, this blog post provides you with 8 tips for how students can recover from burnout.

1. Find a study buddy or study group

Studying with other students and having peers to discuss your learning with is excellent for giving you some motivation and pushing you in the right direction even when you don’t feel like it. It also holds you accountable to turning up to study sessions and turning work in on time.

As these sessions usually include a bit of socialising and banter, they can really help bring you out of a burnout rut. 

2. Change up your routine

If you’ve been working on the same timetable for a while then it’s time to change it up. If you usually study in the afternoons, maybe it’s time to try the mornings. Or instead of coming home and studying for 3 hours straight, break it up by going for a walk in the middle. Little tweaks can make a big difference to how you feel about study and how productive your study time is.

If you’re feeling burnt out then while you’re recovering you should also consider shortening the amount of time you spend studying or working on academic tasks. Try working in small bursts rather than sitting for long periods of time.

3. Refresh your study space

Cleaning, reorganising or decorating your study space can make a huge difference to how you feel about studying. There is something therapeutic about removing things from your environment and starting with a clean slate. 

Don’t underestimate the impact decluttering and adding a small plant can do!

4. Make sure you are getting fresh air regularly

Being out in the fresh air and getting some sunlight has been proven to have a positive impact on wellbeing and mental health. It’s important not only to get outside during the day, but to also make sure your study space is well ventilated. 

5. Be social

Socialising with your friends can also have a positive impact on your wellbeing. Making time for socialising and time away from thinking about your academic life will increase your longevity as a student. It’s also true, and particularly for any creatives, that most good ideas don’t come when you’re trying to force them. Getting away from the desk and amongst friends might be just what you need for that good idea to come or that last bit of information to find its place.  

6. Make sure your study time is effective

When you study, make sure you’re studying in a way that helps you retain the information.  Perhaps you are feeling burnt out because the techniques you are using aren’t working for you any more. Check out this youtube video on my 5 top tips for how to study and actually remember it.

7. Sleep well, eat well, move well

Sleep is important for lots of reasons, but for a student, the greatest being that it is during sleep that your brain processes your learning. It’s when you sleep that everything you have invested so much time in during the day, finds its home in your memory. 

Providing your body with good nutrition will help you feel better, sleep better and learn better.

Exercising increases blood flow around your body and to your brain. This increased blood flow increases the oxygen in the brain which aids concentration and focus during periods of learning. If you’re struggling with burnout, increasing the amount of exercise you are doing each week could help to refresh your body and mind. 

8. Take some time off

If this option is available to you and you feel that you are so burnt out you are thinking of quitting altogether, then I highly recommend taking a break. Take some time to recover and remind yourself why you are studying. This could be as simple as making the most of a mid-term break, or it could mean decreasing your load of subjects for a semester or even taking a whole semester off. 

Author Bio: 

Katrina is a multi-award-winning educator from Sydney, Australia who specialises in creating resources that support teachers and engage students. Katrina has experience in numerous leadership roles and has recently launched her blog, The Animated Teacher Blog, to help support teachers in their professional journey. Visit now for links to teacher resources and blog posts on educational topics: https://www.theanimatedteacherblog.com/

Author: Sim K

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