It's real. It sucks. It might not be completely avoidable

You might find that you're only a few weeks into university, and you're already hearing about this thing called 'burnout'. It's real. It sucks. It might not be completely avoidable, but if you learn the signs and catch it early, then you can pull yourself out of it before it gets unmanageable. 

Learning the signs

It's important to recognise the early warning signs of burnout. Once you know what to look for, you know when you need to take action. This isn't an exhaustive list, but here are some of the most recognisable signs:

• Short temper/Increased irritability
• Physical illnesses, due to stress on the immune system
• Increase in anxiety/panic attacks
• Feeling exhausted, even when you’re sleeping a lot
• Lack of motivation to attend lectures or do coursework

How to reduce/avoid burnout

• Create a routine for yourself, including a regular sleep schedule.
• Prioritise your tasks, keep track of all of your deadlines and have an idea of how long it will take you to complete each project. 
• Learn to say no. You might have thought that signing up to all of those sports and societies at the start of the semester was a good idea, but you don’t have to attend every session and social you are invited to if it becomes too much to juggle. It’s okay to say no!
• Set aside time for self-care – This one sort of goes hand in hand with the previous point. Spend a bit of extra time doing things to lift your spirits. This could be anything from painting your nails, to cooking yourself a nice meal, or curling up with your favourite film. It will give you time to recharge and unwind your mind for a while. 
• Ask for help! If you’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed, it helps to talk and get your thoughts in order. Burnout is unfortunately common, but on the plus side this means that plenty of people will understand what you’re going through. If you don’t want to talk to your friends or family about it, then you can always come along to a Reslife event and talk to one of our Reslife assistants. If you want to speak to someone more regularly, then you can also get in touch with the university’s mental health and wellbeing services via their website.