Handling Burnout

What is Burnout?

Burnout is a form of exhaustion that can manifest in negative emotional, physical or mental reactions. It can have a huge impact on daily life, and often results in individuals losing interest and motivation in academics, social life, and other activities that they normally enjoy.

No one is immune to burnout, and it is not a sign of weakness or a lack of capability; we are human, we have our limits, and we must sometimes step back to re-evaluate our situation and prioritize our well being. Burnout is temporary, and by recognizing the signs and knowing strategies for taking care of yourself in stressful times, it can be both prevented and treated. 

Signs of Burnout

Burnout can look very different depending on the individual and the situation. Listed below are some signs to be aware of if you think you or someone else may be nearing burnout.

• Exhaustion

• Lack of Motivation 

• Lack of Creativity

• Increased irritability

• Inability to focus

• Loss of interest

• High frequency of illness

• Feelings of anxiety and depression

Preventing Burnout

Now that you have learned about what causes burnout, let’s talk about how to prevent it.

Exercise

We know that everyone mentions exercises all the time, but we must admit that it is essential to exercise for your physical and mental health. Designers spend many hours sitting while working, which is very important to make time to exercise. When you fall into exercising 3 to 5 times a week, you will feel better in many different aspects. Mini workouts are a good alternative when you don’t have enough time in your schedule. Mini workouts can simply be walking around your neighbor or a park near your house.

Eat Healthy

Maintaining a healthy diet as a broke student is extremely hard. You usually have to spend a little bit of extra money on healthy food, but if you can avoid eating greasy food as much as possible, your body will thank you after. Also, skipping meals is not good either; try to remind yourself that you won’t have good energy to keep up with work if you don’t eat anything. Buying groceries and cooking your food would save you money. Eating out every day doesn’t help you to save money.

Get Good Sleep

Nothing is better than having a good night’s sleep or taking a nap; it feels fantastic! We, as students, don’t have the opportunity to go to sleep late at night and not wake up early the following day. We don’t have any choice but to try to go to bed early enough that we can get at least 7 hours of sleep. It can be hard sometimes, but here are some things that you can avoid before going to sleep:

• Try not to use social media before going to sleep.
• Don’t drink coffee or any other drink with caffeine in it after 5p.m
• Try not to eat heavy dinner right before going to sleep.

Do the stuff that you like!

The stuff that we like doing distracts our minds from all our adult responsibilities. When you do the simple and little stuff that makes you feel better, set your mind free from any stress or worry that you might have. Making time for family, friends, and hobbies is very important since it keeps you happy and brings much positive energy.

Power Down When Possible

We spend much time looking at our phones and working on our computers which can be tiring for our eyes and brain. Stepping away from technology for a few hours can help you rest and recover. Also, it helps you reduce stress and anxiety.

Learn to Set Boundaries and Don’t Overcommit

You need to know your limits and how much work you can handle. Setting boundaries protects you from situations and people that can cause you feelings of burnout. Also, your whole schedule is filled with classes and activities in college, so it’s essential to find a balance. Try not to overcommit to activities that would take away time for you to rest. Don’t feel sad or guilty for saying NO sometimes.

Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Help.

If you are feeling too much stress and anxiety that is becoming hard to handle, don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, family, or even your professor for help. Explain your situation and how you are feeling, and they will find a solution for you.

Tips from Fellow CD Students

“I give myself space and put down my work temporarily and come back to it later when I’m ready. In the meantime, I listen to music, get a snack, and spend time with people I’m close to.”

“I feel like my top two things to help prevent burnout for me is making homework to do lists for each week and then also taking mental health days. The to-do lists really help me pace out my work and not get too stressed about the heavy workload, and mental health days are always a good idea to just help you disconnect from your work for a longer period. Also, I really struggled with burnout last semester, so for this semester, I don’t allow myself to do any homework on the weekends. This really helps me keep my school and normal life separate as well as keep me refreshed and motivated.”

“In order to handle burn out I either decide to go on walks or sleep depending on the time at the moment.”

“The answer I’ll give is that when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I try to remind myself that not every design should be the best design that’s ever existed, and the best design solutions often come from being relaxed. So sometimes, instead of pushing myself to exhaustion and overworking a design, it’s better to “play the long game” and do what you can in the time you have, prioritizing your rest and personal time.”

Resources on Campus

MassArt Counseling and Wellness:
https://massart.edu/counseling-wellness
counseling@massart.edu 
T: 617.879.7760
2nd Floor of Kennedy Building
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm