By Madison Hiser

As chilling temperatures move out and signs of spring are showing on campus, a dreaded season is approaching. Before college students can pack their bags for Spring Break, they will need to hit the books to make it through midterms. During this hectic time of year, students brace themselves for the impending stress that comes with tests, papers, and projects. From late-night study sessions to caffeine-fueled checkoffs on their to-do list, academic, extracurricular, and social demands on a college student can quickly take their toll, leading to burnout.

While stress is prevalent in many young adults’ lives, it does not always have negative implications; a moderate amount of stress can be beneficial to a student. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), positive, short-term stress can motivate a person to do their best on challenging but “enjoyable or worthwhile tasks.”

Stress indicates a high alertness in a person’s body and mind; it can motivate and prepare a person to succeed. Some cognitive benefits to having a moderate amount of short-term stress are positive impacts on memory and prompted self-analysis.

But when a person experiences chronic stress, or when stress is met with a routine of bad habits, it can lead to burnout.

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by a lack of motivation, lowered performance, and negative attitudes. It results from performing at a high level with a seemingly never-ending presence of stress, often leaving a person overwhelmed with feelings of apathy or hopelessness. Other signs of burnout are physical and mental exhaustion, a sense of dread about performing day-to-day tasks, and anger or irritability.

There are many things that students can do to prepare themselves for the midterm season while also combatting a state of burnout:

Staying engaged is a great way to avoid getting behind and feeling overwhelmed. Some examples of staying engaged as a student are routinely going to class, participating in fulfilling activities, keeping a planner to stay organized, and journaling.

Going to class is one of the easiest ways to stay on top of coursework. Being immersed in the material, in communication with the instructor, and surrounded by others who also have the same workload can aid overwhelming feelings of stress and anxiety around assignments.

Another way to stay on top of tasks while juggling many commitments and a heavy course load is to keep a planner. Planners not only develop a habit of checking when things need to be done, but they help organize thoughts and allow the cathartic ability to cross things off as they are completed.

Keeping a journal also helps organize and clarify thoughts by getting them from your head onto paper. Journaling can promote a calm physiological state by allowing a person to release thoughts that they would otherwise dwell over in their head. Not only is this a practical way of managing stress, but it can also be therapeutic to express feelings on paper.

While knowing how to regulate one’s feelings is important, establishing a support network while at school can be beneficial to the emotional support and engagement of a student. Having peers to confide in over shared or common experiences can contribute to improved mental and emotional health.

Creating good study habits is another key element in combating a state of burnout; having such habits can relieve the feelings of being chronically overwhelmed and exhausted.

Having a preferred place to study promotes progress, as positive environments affect one’s mindset and, by extension, their motivation. Working in a place that allows for limited distractions can also contribute to a student’s ability to focus and manage stress that may arise when studying.

If studying alone is an issue for a student, creating a study group can be beneficial to stay on top of coursework. Not only does having a study group to collaborate with help with understanding, but it can also provide a source of accountability for students who struggle with staying on track.

Another habit that is helpful to students who may be struggling to stay afloat with an overwhelming course load is to designate specific times and days for impending tasks. When a student goes into a week knowing when they can get something done, and when they will have time away from work, it can reduce the anxiety associated with assignments.

An idea that students can use to motivate themselves is creating a reward system for themselves while studying. This can be a great way to boost morale and reset their attitude around studying.

Something that is just as important to combating stress as creating good work habits is practicing self-care. Taking care of oneself is essential to performing well.

The amount of sleep a college student gets is a prevalent factor in academic performance. If a person doesn’t get an adequate amount of sleep, they are likely to experience lack of energy and inability to think clearly. When well rested, a student is more inclined to attend class and other commitments, be engaged, and be motivated to tackle their tasks.

Like sleep, eating well can help promote better performance in day-to-day tasks. Eating fuels the body and mind, so it is necessary for a person to take consideration in how they are fueling themselves and their productivity.

Exercising is a great way to physically regulate stress. Not only does exercising have physical benefits, but it can help a person mentally too. People tend to enjoy experiences more when they feel good, and a proven way to take some control in how one feels is to exercise. Whether it’s going to the gym, participating in intramural sports, or taking routine walks around town and campus, exercise can help manage everyday stressors.

While these things can physically and mentally improve performance and lower stress, it is also important to prioritize things that bring joy. A great way for a student to practice self-care is to focus on doing something they love each day. Doing this can promote increased productivity, motivation, and an improved mindset and emotional well-being. Entertaining a hobby, trying something new, seeing a friend, calling a loved one, running an errand, taking a drive, and window shopping are all examples of small things that can be implemented into a students’ day that may bring them joy and allow time to reset.

As self-care implies, it is important to prioritize sustaining mental, physical, and emotional health to remain vitalized members of society. Something that also allows for the security of both a person’s well-being and their productivity is the prioritization of work-life balance.

According to Psychology Today, burnout is likely to occur when a person does not feel a sense of control on how a job is carried out or is asked to complete tasks that conflict with their sense of self. Establishing boundaries can help a student actively avoid situations that make them feel overwhelmed, hopeless, or uncomfortable.

Setting boundaries is an effective way of not only creating work-life balance but also managing stress, as it allows a person to have some control over a situation that may send them into a panic. Examples of setting boundaries include establishing a clear schedule, setting realistic goals and limits, taking a break when feeling overwhelmed, and saying no to unnecessary stressors.

A particular boundary that helps minimize stress is establishing designated non-work time. It is crucial to allow the body and mind to relax, as resting is equally important to productivity as being actively engaged.

With schedules packed and a seemingly endless list of obligations, it is easy to lose sight of the importance of maintaining healthy habits. As midterms draw closer, consider these suggestions on how to take back the day when facing stressful commitments.