As we near the end of the semester, you may be experiencing emotional, physical and mental fatigue.
Or have been meeting all of the above for some time now. I know I have.
As a dual-enrolled student in a four-year college and here at Delta, while maintaining two jobs outside of school, and my social life.
I feel like burnout is always on the horizon. Now this is no excuse to keep procrastinating all of your assignments.
“Burn-out is included in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as an occupational phenomenon. It is not classified as a medical condition,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Burnout can make you feel hopeless, cynical and resentful.
Some key symptoms include: no longer feeling excited, engaged or invested, your sleep is off, you’re physically exhausted, your eating habits have changed, you’re having headaches or stomach aches.
This may also sound like depression, however there are some key differences, such as, “In depression, negative thoughts and feelings aren’t only about specific demands (such as job-related ones), but about all areas of life.
Other typical symptoms of depression include low self-esteem, feelings of guilt, hopelessness and suicidal tendencies,”according to the National Library of Medicine.
So people with burnout don’t always have depression but you should always consult a medical professional for a true diagnosis.
I know… Just reading all of that information is going to cause you to stress and overthink as it did for me just writing this.
But take a deep breath, because I have a few tips and tricks for us to get us through the rest of the semester and maybe even the year if we’re smart.
PRIORITIZE YOUR SELF CARE
Yeah, we have all heard this one before. But it is crucial to replenish your physical and emotional energy.
This should help with refocusing your mind and remind yourself to begin good sleep habits, nutrition, exercise, social connection. Something we forget to practice that promotes our well-being.
I suggest working out, meditating, journaling, reading a book or simply going outside and taking a walk.
DELEGATE OR ASK FOR HELP
This is a big one for me. I always feel like it’s up to me to get everything done and never ask for help because other people have more important things to do then help me.
However, do it!
Ask others to help step in and plan out what tasks you may be able to let go of.
It could be simple things such as asking your partner or family member to do the grocery shopping, or as simple as your friend handling the planning of your next get-together.
SET BOUNDARIES AND SAY NO WHEN YOU’RE ABLE
It’s more than okay to set healthy boundaries for things that are no longer helpful or beneficial to you.
This isn’t an excuse however to turn down every request asked of you, but you can set boundaries on how, when and what you are willing to accept.
For example, telling friends or family you need an advance notice in order to make plans that work with your schedule can help.
Another one could be turning your work notifications off after hours, because let’s be real we’re not on the clock getting paid to check every five minutes, or not checking your email past a certain time. I mean seriously apple made four different settings for us to step away from our phones and not be interrupted, let’s use them.
TAKE THAT BREAK YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT
Whether you’re waiting for the right time for the week off, or it’s just a day trip, spend the time to yourself.
Use some form of transportation to remove yourself from your surroundings to clear your mind and body of all the stress and expectations you have built up and allow yourself to just disconnect.
Although the semester or year is near, remind yourself in a world full of constant distractions and “this can wait,” your mental health should never have to wait.
More resources on campus can be found on the Health and Wellness on the Delta College website: deltacollege.edu/department/health-wellness
