It’s important to create a work-life balance in order to prevent burnout, and I’ll admit this is something I definitely need to get better at.
My problem is I like to keep busy and have things to do. Whenever I don’t have anything to do, I feel like I’m being lazy and unproductive.
Taking time for yourself is important – even if it means just bed-rotting for a day – and doing so doesn’t make you lazy.
Burnout is essentially the feeling of having so much on your plate leading to feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Burnout comes in stages and there are different types of burnout such as overload burnout, according to Web MD.
Unfortunately, burnout has appeared to almost become the new normal, especially among college students. This should not be the case, and it’s important that we focus on ourselves in order to prevent burnout.
In 2023, 24% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 rated their average stress between eight and 10, indicating that they have high levels of stress, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. This number is alarming and shows there is an increasing need for people to incorporate self-care into their lives.
Some things that students – myself included – can do to help with self-care and prevent burnout are finding time to incorporate self-care into your schedule, even if it’s something as simple as taking a nap or listening to music. One thing people can do is shut their technology completely off for a few hours, so they aren’t getting notifications that may stress them out.
Students should also set boundaries with people and learn to say no, especially if you are taking on too much work. I’ll admit this is something I definitely need to get better at. I have such a hard time saying no to people, in fear I’ll upset them.
In turn, as a society, we need to have a switch in our mindset. Instead of treating productivity like a train that never stops running, we need to have the mindset that focusing on self-care and a work-life balance is productive. We need to stop associating self-care with “laziness.”
College can get overwhelming at times, especially with trying to balance classes, work and having a social life. Some tips to create a proper work-life balance are to take breaks to clear your head, turn your work notifications off after work hours and to set goals to complete your work at work, so you are able to enjoy your time at home.
Self-care is vital and something students should prioritize in their lives. Self-care only makes you better in the long run.
