Often times when we think of a burnout, we think of it in relation to work but it can happen in any aspect of our lives. A burnout occurs when we become overworked emotionally and physically, so much so that day to day tasks become strenuous. Similar to stress, a burnout causes powerful emotions. When we feel exhausted, helpless, apathetic, stressed, overwhelmed, physically sick and our productivity decreases, those are clear signs of a burnout.
My Story
I must admit, at the onset of my studies I was overly eager to say the least. My goal was to dive in and learn as much as I could in the 12-14 months time span that I had given myself to complete my studies. Perhaps I underestimated the mental and emotional toll that studying could result in especially with a new family, relocating to a new country and working at the same time. Nonetheless, I scheduled myself well enough to produce quality research papers, meet deadlines and tend to personal needs. All was going well until I was 80% finished with my studies. It started out with me questioning the necessity of certain assignments, taking longer to complete research papers and waiting longer to begin assignments. Gradually, my apathy grew to the point where I felt tired all the time, frustrated, had difficulty sleeping and focused more on completing the program versus learning the course content.
Takeaways
A burnout can affect anyone at any stage in life
It is not your final destination. The sadness and fatigue that often comes with it is just a way of telling you that something is not right and you need to fix it
Your frustration and apathy is not a direct result of your studies but a side effect of the way you are handling and approaching your studies
A burnout can be serious if given the chance to take root. Know the signs and be proactive about it
How To Recover From a Grad School Meltdown
Recovery from a burnout does not have to come at the end of your studies. Once you realize what you are experiencing, you can do something about it right away.
Keep your end-goal insight. Remember why you started and where you see yourself going with your hard earned degree.
Give yourself a break. Often times we put too much pressure on ourselves and set our expectations to impossible heights. At the end of the day, you're human and you're not expected to be perfect.
Take inventory. Make a list of all the things that are causing you stress. Identify one way to solve each and prioritize them in terms of importance
Be flexible. If you have too much going on, it is okay to extend your studies
Take care of your health. Mental health is very important while studying.
Take a break from your studies when you need to. This may mean taking a leave of absence from school or just a quick out of town vacation away from your campus or laptop.
Acceptance. Understand that the concept of burnout is not a new phenomenon. Express your feelings about it and pamper yourself when you need to
Be tactical. There are many ways to complete assignments without feeling too overwhelmed. One of those ways includes making a schedule or study timetable. Know when to say no to activities that may leave you drained and exhausted so that you can put that energy into your studies.
How To Avoid a Burnout
Everything we do must be done in moderation. The same goes for your studies.
Take a break from your studies when you need to
Do something meaningful and interesting or get back into an old hobby
Try meditation and relaxation exercises
Try not to sacrifice yourself too much or become dismayed by poor grades or peer reviews. View it as a challenge to get better.
If you believe in a higher power, take the time to refocus spiritually
Learn to say no
Exercise and get adequate rest
Prioritize your time well so that you do not become overwhelmed
Experiencing a burnout can be a difficult time in one's life but the truth is, it presents us with a time to regroup and recenter ourselves and tackle our daily life challenges from a better perspective.
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