I’m currently a second semester senior and I just feel so burned out. Every time I open a textbook or start doing some problem that requires a lot of thinking at home, I get this weird feeling and really don’t want to do the work.
I obviously need to fix this before college, and a few of my grades are suffering from this burnout feeling as well. Do you guys have any recommendations for how to alleviate this and start good study habits again?
Work can be like that too: some days, or during some parts of a particular day, I don’t feel like completing or working on a particular project. It’s usually a hard one that will require lots of ink and paper (trial and error…) and/or dealing with others – just wait until your livelihood depends on the guy who never returns emails! – and often some creative thinking. So i’ll do all the little things – all the other tasks I can think of – to avoid working on the Big Thing, until there are none of those little tasks left, and it’s just me and the Big Thing, staring each other down like a bull and a matador.
But eventually, I realize that:
a) Nobody’s going to do the Big Thing but me (or, my part of it…), and
b) If I refuse to do it, or my part, my boss won’t be happy, and
c) I like my job and don’t want to put a vise clamp on our family budget by losing it.
So I take care of it, or at least put together a plan to tackle it and start working on it.
If I need a break, I go for a short walk around the office, listen to some music, or sit in the bathroom and catch up on the Facebook gossip for 5-10 minutes.
I find singing and laughing to be particularly good for recharging the old noggin.
So remember what you’re working for: college, degree, good job (right?).
And if you need to, take a break now and then to just relax and let your head cool off a bit.
Just keep working at it and you’ll get through it. Life is work, so figuring out how to deal with that now will be to your advantage.
I had something similar in sophomore year. I’d suggest you reevaluate your current activities. Do you enjoy what you’re doing outside of school? Or maybe are you not doing anything? It helps if you give your brain a chance to engage in a fun activity. Some sort of form of physical exercise, preferably in a group, could definitely eleviate stress you’re feeling and help you feel happier. Lastly make sure you get enough sleep and give yourself a consistent sleep schedule. Your brain needs a break and sleep helps a lot.
Take a break. No homework for a week won’t kill you. I promise. Don’t open the books at all. One week.
Sleep. Make sure you have at least eight hours each night. It’ll do wonders!
After your ‘week off’, return to work - I promise it’ll feel different.