With end of the semester cramming, final exams and the holiday season approaching, it is common for students to start feeling the weight of the end of the year on their shoulders. The slow transition from in-person to online to in-person learning causes anguish as students are forced to have to readapt to each new learning environment.

College burnout is an overwhelming condition of exhaustion, and can sometimes lead to a decrease in academic performance. With this, students may feel less motivated, have a loss of “sparkle” and even at times be irritable and frustrated. And that can strain personal relationships.

This could happen to anyone but is more likely in college students. A Boston University study said that 83% of their respondents reported that their symptoms of burnout affected their academic performance.

Regarding the pandemic, this semester was as close as it has been to normal in a long time.

On-campus, the Center for Student Engagement, Leadership, and Orientation (CSELO) and the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion are known to host events meant to help students recharge, such as the Breakfast for Dinner event paired with de-stressing activities hosted in the Bartels Hall Campus Center. Even with this, it is sometimes still hard to balance the overflowing assignments and studies.

For many, burnout is compounded by senioritis during what should be considered a festive time. With graduation officially less than one week away and the holidays following, a sense of relief feels close.

A self-care method that can help snap people out of this funk is to persistently set aside time for themselves. Taking time away from others just to sit alone offers time for regrouping. There are fewer distractions when you do not have to worry about what a roommate needs. This could be slipping away to scroll through TikTok or getting off campus for a change of scenery. This allows you to unwind or strategically prioritize what is next on your to-do list––an essential for balance.

Asking for help is also key to fighting burnout. As soon as a student experiences symptoms indicative of academic burnout, they should go to the Center for Student Success, which was designed to offer students study tricks, time management techniques and other academic de-stressing methods. Another department available to students is the Counseling and Psychological Services Center.

Self-care is essential in overcoming burnouts. It helps you de-stress effectively enough to be ready for the rest of the year.