Dear Life, 

I have had a rough couple of days. I’m already burnt out five weeks into the semester, my mental health has suffered and it is affecting my focus and productivity. I have a self-care routine for when this happens but my schedule is non-stop. How do I balance my hectic schedule with recovering my mental health?

Thanks, 

Busy Student

Hello Busy Student!

I’m so sorry you’re having a tough time and I won’t placate you, but I can all but promise there are several other people experiencing early semester burnout. Now that the first round of midterms have come and gone, classes are starting to get real, it is not unrealistic to already be burnt out. 

It is unrealistic to recommend you take time for yourself or slow down because it’s impossible when you have to keep up with the demands of college life and you can’t pause lectures, classes, assignments or exams. 

When there is not time to fully recover in the middle of the semester, the only way is to micro-dose self- care. Self-care has been twisted by overconsuming internet culture to be a day-long period of ultimate physical and mental healing. This is unrealistic for college students and can end up being more exhausting than beneficial. 

Micro-dosing self-care can happen alongside schoolwork in the form of watching an episode of your favorite TV show or movie, preferably a childhood favorite or guilty pleasure. Gently de-stimulating by watching long-form content and consuming content you are familiar with can help conserve some energy and refocus your mind on longer tasks. 

To destimulate and calm your mind, do the same, but with music. Listen to an artist you have not listened to in years, or ask a friend for music recommendations. This is best if you step away from your laptop or textbook and breathe in some fresh air, even if that means opening a window and listening to a three-minute long song before getting back to work. 

Hygiene is always important in taking care of your body in times of struggle, but taking time to do your daily routine can help you feel more put together and organized. Spend an extra 5 minutes in the shower, imagine you are doing a 20-step skincare routine even if your only step is moisturizer. Delusion is the key, imagine pampering yourself and you will begin to appreciate the small luxuries of your busy life. 

Both of these options are free, which is ideal for college students, but if you’re willing to shell out, spend your hard-earned money on your favorite things rather than novelty items. Destressing and recovering from burnout are not for discovering something new about yourself. Stick to the stuff you know to ground yourself, then explore with new hobbies, skincare or clothes. 

Put simply, do what you can with the little time you have to come back to yourself. Maintaining a healthy, focused and strong mind are essential in rigorous academic environments, but the stress is not conducive to healthy minds or bodies. Small habits, even as small as mentally reframing your daily routine, can be small steps towards recovering from stress or burnout.

Sincerely,

The Life Section