In pursuit of a diploma or remarkable career, students may be too hard on themselves. In addition, if not prepared for an independent life separately from their parents, college and university students have to deal with overwhelming stress.
It is of utmost importance to know how to recognize the signs of stress and burnout so that you can overcome them in a timely manner. And it is definitely a must to learn how to have some rest and avoid overload. So, today, we will go through the list of signs indicating that a student needs a break and give some additional recommendations.
Use of Help
Let’s clarify it in the first place: there are various reasons people always ask for help. Sometimes, it’s just about the lack of learning skills or the absence of motivation. It’s typical for students to copy from others’ homework or even plagiarize if they don’t even need that diploma. They don’t want to waste time studying. Yet, there is also another type.
Take, for example, a diligent student who used to complete written assignments themselves but suddenly starts hiring a college paper writer with help ️PaperWriter.com for any kind of tasks. Why such rapid changes? Because it’s common for anyone to lose control of their life when there’s too much going on. Taking advantage of professional services or frequently asking to copy someone’s homework indicates that you’re not as concerned about studying and more about other stuff.
Personal issues can make it hard to focus on anything else. Diligent students, still afraid of keeping up the appearance. But even when they gather up the last strengths and complete the assignments on their own, they don’t get the best results. That’s why they may start asking for help regularly and, eventually, stop making any effort, which will eventually result in guilt and lowered self-esteem.
Sliding Grades
This is a further stage of tiredness because the student doesn’t even care about their grades. Let’s admit it, a busy mind is rarely clear, and some students may even drop out thinking there is no way to improve their grades. It is especially relevant for perfectionists who are prone to giving up on earning good grades when they face failure or realize they can’t handle the workload without making mistakes.
So, having some time away from studies is needed not to make hasty decisions. After that, it will be easier to separate out the subjects that matter more than others to you and your future. So, do take care of them in the first place while attending to your needs. As soon as you deal with the main subjects, you may find strength for the rest.
Memory Issues
Just as a computer overloaded with browser tabs, your mind may start glitching and forgetting about important events and details. If you notice such a problem or feel that there’s a lot on your plate, try to clear up your schedule and leave only the top-priority tasks. Sometimes, you don’t get to manage everything college asks of you, and that’s when prioritizing can save you time and effort. As soon as your schedule becomes less tight, use the free time to get some rest and do whatever you like. Just don’t fill it with other tasks and chores.
Sleep Deprivation
Memory issues can also result from a lack of sleep. Remember once and for all: proper sleep is the core physical need. When we sleep, our brains reboot and process whatever we can’t process when staying awake. Our body restores the resources that get depleted by the end of the day if you’re a busy student.
If you have to decide between having a proper sleep and pulling an all-nighter to finish several essays, it’s always better to opt for reducing your workload. You can always ask your teacher to give you an extension or delegate some assignments to an expert to take care of yourself.
Mood Swings
Mood swings indicate that there is either a hormone imbalance or too many emotions to deal with. Have you ever tried to solve numerous issues at once? Impatience and irritation may come out of nowhere in that case. And only the most seasoned professionals may resist those without stressing out. Unless you’re one of those, it’s important to give yourself a break when you notice the mood swings.
Lack of Motivation
When every day becomes a copy of the previous one, it’s easy to lose inspiration and motivation. Drowning in assignments and completing the tasks you don’t get the point of may become a routine that will kill your passion for achieving your goals.
Sometimes, to boost your motivation to do anything, a change of scenery and activity is more than enough. Even a couple of days in a totally different environment and a preferred company can give you strength for several months.
No Days Off
This sign is a prerequisite to burnout. So, you can handle the problem before it arises.
A diligent approach and regular study sessions are indeed crucial for gradual progress. However, filling your schedule with a bunch of tasks every single day is not a good idea. If you struggle to spare some time for yourself, put off all the chores and tasks once a week.
Pick a day, Saturday, for instance, and follow the simple rule: all play and no work. As soon as you implement this practice, you will see how much energy one can get from a single day of doing nothing that requires effort.
Summing Up
All the cases above lead to basically one and the same recommendation: do not put your studies before your health and personal life. The issues with the latter will inevitably influence your state of mind and, in the end, hold you back from achieving your goals.
Remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? Such stuff as status and success go after one’s physiological and safety needs as well as love and belonging. So, it’s a must to give yourself regular breaks to address those needs instead of pushing yourself more and more.