Hey everyone!
I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, but as soon as I got back from Spring Break, I hit the ground running and have been non-stop. This week I'm going to talk about burn-out and finishing the year strong, which is something I definitely struggle with. All throughout high school, Spring Break was the perfect break to give me just enough juice to finish out my year strong. College, I'm finding, is a little different. Right now, I feel like I'm crawling toward the finish line, just praying that I get everything done on time and do well enough on all of my tests. I figured out that this is not how I want to finish...I want to finish strong, like I've always done, and I'm about to talk about some key aspects that might help me, and you as well, if you are in the same boat. I hope this helps.
Burn Out
I don't know about you, but this is the most burnt out I have ever felt this close to the end. There are many variables that cause this, but the most important is academic performance. I constantly ask myself, "Do I want to allow myself to succumb to mediocrity and just finish, or do I want to give it my all and do the very best I can to achieve my goals?" I have never been one to succumb to mediocrity...it's just not in my nature and it makes me feel down about myself, but lately, I just haven't been putting my all into what I do. To be real, I've been half-assing a lot of my school work, and it's starting to bite me in the butt. I cannot continue like this, or I will "just finish" sorely disappointed with myself. College is not a 100 meter sprint, but more like a marathon, where you have to run at a steady pace. Honestly, I'm trying to figure out just how to do that effectively for me. I'm a social person, so I like to be a part of a lot of things and find myself putting too much on my plate, which could be a cause of burnout. I bet I'm not the only one in this boat. So how do we fellow social people and perfectionists combat this burn out that leads to laziness? The following are tips that I think will help me, and hopefully you as well.
The End Is Near
Yes, I know the school year is rapidly coming to a close and that finals are just around the corner. How could I forget? I've already started counting down...37 days and counting until summer...that is NOT a long time, folks. But within those 37 days, I have 4 papers due and 7 more tests. That's a lot...and I know that all of you fellow college students probably have just as much, if not more on your plates as well, let alone social events, mandatory events, and having to move out. So, my advice since the end is about to swallow us all whole, is to make schedules for yourselves...stick to them as best as possible, and take things day by day, piece by piece. Don't let yourselves get too far behind which leads to cramming, which leads to stress, which can lead to burnout, but don't worry about what is due the last week of school...yet. Take care of what is due now, and go from there.
Kick in the Pants
If you need to, ask your friends to help keep you accountable. I'm not talking about them acting as a parent, but if you feel it would be beneficial for your friends to ask you how your studying is going or to invite you to study with them at certain times, by all means. That's what friends are for. Accountability is so important in many areas in college, and believe it or not, academics is one of them. If you need a (figurative) kick in the pants to motivate you to study, let your friends know. By asking them to help you be accountable for completing your work, you are likely helping them do the same. Schedule study sessions with your friends. Decide some nights that you are going to study instead of going out, and invite them to do the same, don't force them, of course. You will be surprised at how far that little extra really goes. In the end, you will all probably be proud of yourselves for your accomplishments.
Reward Yourself
I know I just did a lot of harping on how important it is to keep up with your studies especially since the end is near, but DO NOT spend all of your waking hours studying. This WILL burn you out...FAST. Decide how much you are going to complete in a certain amount of time, and once that is completed, take a break; reward yourself even. I know last weekend I did a lot of homework, but after I did what I knew I needed to complete, I went out with the girls and had a girls' night. It was a blast, and I felt that much better because I had also been productive during the day. The next day, I did what I needed to for another class, and then spent time with friends participating in Splatter Beat, which essentially turned into a paint fight. These fun times made studying that much more worth it. Balance is key to avoiding burn out.
Sprint to the Finish
I ran cross country once upon a time. Shocker, I know. But seriously, hear me out for just a few seconds. I always started off slow and steady and ran at a constant pace pretty much the whole time, until the last quarter of a mile...then I sprinted to the finish line. That is kind of how college can work. It's how I'm hoping to finish. After my last final, I am hoping I can say to myself, "wow, you gave it all you had," just like I did during every cross country race. My advice to you is to finish your year in a sprint, not in a jog, or a walk, or a crawl. Finish in a way that will make you feel proud, no matter what your grades look like at the end.
Congrats, You Did It
If you suck it up and finish strong, I guarantee you will feel satisfied with your accomplishments, and some partying will be warranted. We're almost there, and we can do it!
"Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is epic." -Robin Sharma
Yours Truly,
Steph
