Sincerely, Sara: How to Survive the End-of-Semester Burnout?

By Sara Kaufman

Edited by Taylor Morgan

As we are nearing the end of the semester, stress levels start to skyrocket. Between deadlines, exams, projects and other responsibilities, it's easy to burn out fast. But to survive these last few weeks, you don’t need to sacrifice your well-being. With intentional strategies and self-care, you can stray away from losing your sanity.

Prioritize and Plan

Start by setting yourself up for success. Your biggest asset is yourself. Make a realistic to-do list. Break down big projects or papers into smaller, more manageable tasks. I personally use a big to-do list of all the things I have to do online. Then each day, I write a Post-it note of all of the small things I need to accomplish that particular day. Prioritizing and breaking down your work helps you focus on what's most important and prevents the feeling of being swamped.

Take Care of Yourself

It can be easy to skip meals or stay up late working, but at the end of the day, this will lead to burnout much more quickly. Try to keep up with your routine while plotting a little extra study time. Remember to take brain breaks while studying, get up and walk around, go talk to a friend, do something non-academic. You can also do mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing or meditation. Doing things like this can help you re-center and ground yourself. 

Hodlital / @litalhodd on Pinterest

Reach out for Support 

You do not have to handle everything alone. Talk with your classmates, friends or family about what you are experiencing or how you are feeling. I recommend reaching out to other people in your classes to see how they are doing, and how they feel can validate your feelings at the moment. It’s important to talk to someone about your struggles or frustrations so that you do not keep them bundled up inside, which can often cause burnout. 

The end of the semester can be challenging, and sometimes it feels like it will never end. But it's possible to survive, or even thrive, without burning out. By planning carefully, taking care of yourself and seeking support, you can finish the semester out strong. Remember to celebrate your progress and the amazing things you have accomplished this semester. Most importantly, be kind to yourself and trust that your hard work will pay off!

Sincerely, 

Sara