By Jacob Slinkman and Ben Savage
College coursework presents its own challenges, requiring long hours of study that can lead to stress and burnout. Once the semester begins, students don’t receive a break from classes until Thanksgiving break, which is more than eight weeks straight of classes. According to an article written at the University of Georgia, academic burnout can lead to stress, mood changes, loss of sleep, and a whole host of other symptoms. It is important for students to know the facts about their feelings and how best to deal with the rigors of college academics.
The UWGB Wellness Center offers free counseling appointments throughout the year with a team of trained professionals to help students address physical and mental health challenges. It is an invaluable resource to UWGB students, especially during times of high stress, like midterms and finals.
According to an article written by the University of the People, there are ways to prevent students from getting burnt out throughout the semester.
1. Make Time for Things Enjoying
It is especially important to do these things throughout the week when students are in class and are likely most stressed, not just on the weekends when students get a break. Doing this can help manage stress during the especially busy parts of the semester.
2. Get Physical Exercise and Spend Time Outdoors
Studies show that these two things, paired with a healthy diet and staying hydrated, can reduce stress.
3. Build a Support System
Put students in social situations throughout the week so they can create a support system, as well as create good relationships with professors so they can learn how to support them best throughout the semester.
4. Set Realistic Goals
Setting achievable goals and sticking to them is important. Using a calendar or daily reminders can help students stay organized and on track.
5. Avoid Procrastination and Improve Time Management
Although it may be tempting to put things off when feeling stressed, it is likely to end up leading to more stress in the future. It is important to create schedules in advance to ensure students have a good work-life balance. Be sure to give them enough time to get all of their work done, but also take regular breaks to keep students from getting burnt out.
6. Take a Step Back
Finally, it is never a bad idea to take a step back and evaluate their situations as a whole. Students may be overly stressed because they are in the wrong program or major, and they feel they may want to change their future plans, or perhaps they moved too fast and are in classes that are above their skill level, and they need to take a step back and get back to the basics. It is important to make sure students have put themselves on the right track to be as successful and stress-free as they can throughout their college education and into their future.
Midterms and finals are especially stressful times for students, and it can often feel like schoolwork is overwhelming. These feelings are normal and common, but there are many ways to manage them—from proper scheduling to therapy and exercise. Remember to balance the academic responsibilities with quality time spent with friends and family, and don’t let burnout take control.
