<p>For some reason, I've been feeling utterly burnt out lately and I need to tap back into that good-student zone. I don't know if it's because I started taking upper-level courses as a freshmen (I'm a sophomore now), had an 18 credit semester last winter, took a summer class, studied abroad over the summer, and am now taking even more upper-level courses, and am involved in a couple clubs, but I'm just really not feeling it.</p>
<p>I'm still doing well in my courses thus far, but I foresee myself slipping. I have a looming major project due that I just can't find the energy to get working on, and I feel like every day is consists of just scrambling to finish the stuff that's due that day. I also work on the weekends and so haven't had a real day off in a while, but I fortunately was able to have a low-key day today and will no longer be working on the weekends.</p>
<p>Do you all think this will be enough to help me get back on track? I see so many super-duper students who work on so many projects at once, and I just don't know how they have the energy to keep up with it all. I guess I just feel disappointed because I can't do as many things as I'd like and because my motivation to do well is fading away.</p>
<p>Do not measure yourself against those “super-duper” students. You don’t know how well they are doing in any of their many projects.</p>
<p>Focus on your own work. Get through this semester. And think very seriously about taking the spring semester off. You have been going at full speed since last fall. You need a break.</p>
<p>Well no wonder, grabble, you’re overcommitted. It’s good you’ll have your weekends without a job responsibility. As for the major project, in my best mom voice: get going right now. Develop a schedule to complete it. Temporarily lower your club involvement. We all have to slog through so don’t drop the ball at this time.</p>
<p>Keep moving forward and reassess your future workload when you can come up for air.Although you may get flak from peers and family, know that there is nothing wrong in taking a semester off. All of us - even the ‘super dupers’ need to slow down on occasion. And while you’re slowing, ask yourself if there is a deeper issue - are you dissatisfied with your major, your living situation, and so on, then act accordingly.</p>
<p>@grabble You wrote, “I have a looming major project due that I just can’t find the energy to get working on, and I feel like every day is consists of just scrambling to finish the stuff that’s due that day. I also work on the weekends and so haven’t had a real day off in a while, but I fortunately was able to have a low-key day today and will no longer be working on the weekends.”</p>
<p>Welcome to life. This is pretty much what adult life is like. Too much to do; not enough time. I agree with those who told you to cut some time, perhaps on a fixed schedule, for physical recreation. I would add mental recreation – movies, museum visits, reading that is not related to school, a club or community project. You DO have time for these, and they will help to refresh you for your other tasks and assignments. Besides, we’re meant to be social animals, not just drones.</p>
<p>I remember that when I started college at first I was nearly overwhelmed with the work. One thing that I did was to have a “daily planner” with a schedule of tasks (including time for longer-term projects, hours for reading, writing, class attendance, etc.). I came to realize that while I would only be in class maybe 15 hours per week – an average of three hours per day on weekdays – a calendar week has a whole lot of hours in it: 168 to be exact (24 x 7). I got used to working 60-hour weeks in my demanding program. This included some hours of work each weekend day, too. But if I had a plan for accomplishing my projects, reading, writing, etc., spread over 60 working hours, guess what? I still had nearly 110 hours remaining! Plenty of time for exercising, hanging out, eating, sleeping, going to a film, participating in a club. There were some weeks when I might work 100 hours because of a deadline (research project), but usually not back-to-back weeks like that. And even in those weeks, 68 hours remained for everything else, which amounts to almost 10 hours per day! But such weeks were fairly rare.</p>
<p>There really is time for you to spend on non-assigned projects. Or to do nothing. But you have to take hold of your schedule.</p>
<p>No matter how busy you are, don’t forget to have some fun. I would suggest for you to schedule few things you like to do every week, may it be video game, watching TV, getting together with friends or exercise. </p>
<p>I want to add my post to the excercise group. Even if it’s just to get outside in the air and take an hour walk with upbeat music on your headphones, even if you don’t think you have “time” to do it, it will add immensely to your feeling of energy and well-being. And @oldfort is right. Make time for fun. It will add to the space in your mind for your projects, etc…</p>
<p>We all need some down time. Sounds like you finally will have some. Remember to keep academics as your number one priority. Skip any club commitments instead of falling behind on coursework. Definitely get some exercise- this can be walking the campus instead of taking the bus- it doesn’t have to be formal. </p>
<p>Force yourself to get started with the big project and break it down into manageable sections to finish by certain dates, leaving some extra time at the end for any glitches in your schedule. Often getting started is the hardest part, especially if it is not a fun task or you don’t know what you’re doing. </p>
<p>One more way of saying what others already said. Get off CC and get to work.</p>
<p>OP,
It is extremely important to have summer off. Many attack me every time I mentioned that my D. had every summer off while in UG. It has helped her a lot. You will not have summers off later on in your life. Sleep in, spend time with your friends (the ones that do not talk about academics all the time, the ones with wide range of interests, the “fun” people)
This experience showed her that taking breaks is an important part of working hard. This idea has helped her tremendously in Med. School, where they do not have many chances to have a break, but when they are a bit more in contorl of their time, she made sure to have scheduled breaks. One day of doing nothing can do wonders to your productivity later,…so far has been working fine…</p>