Suffering from Burnout? You're Not Alone!

November 19, 2020
By Jessica Linton (third year), Peer Wellness Educator

This school year, as we all know, is unlike any other.  Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to transform our lifestyles to be able to adapt to all the necessary changes that come with protecting ourselves and others.  Some changes have been easier than others, and many people are finding the change to remote learning to be challenging, myself included.  Personally, I’ve felt overwhelmed by this change and am still trying to adapt my study strategies to this new environment, and that's partially why I'm writing this article.  I don’t think I’m alone in what I’m feeling, so I wanted to voice my thoughts with my fellow Golden Hawks because I hope that the message that someone else is feeling similar feelings could be reassuring and help some people feel less isolated.

Feeling Overwhelmed and Stressed

The most common feelings I’ve had this term are of being overwhelmed and stressed.  I had hoped that during my third year I would hit my stride academically and solidify the study routines and study spaces that work best for me; however, being confined in my home has drastically changed those expectations, which I’m sure plenty of people can relate to.  I’ve found that writing all my due dates in my four-month calendar and Google Calendars has helped me stay a bit more organized, which then helps me feel less overwhelmed.  I find that having all my dates on a physical four-month calendar allows me to visualise what my term, as a whole, looks like; then I’m able to plan for my busy weeks, so I know when I need to buckle down more versus when I have time to unwind and destress.  I also like setting Google Calendar reminders because I don’t forget or miss any deadlines thanks to the notifications on my phone. It’s true that getting a bit more organized doesn’t completely resolve my stress, but I find my calendars, along with a weekly to-do list, put my workload into perspective.  When I’m just thinking about everything I have coming up, it’s so easy for me to become overwhelmed; however, once I take a couple of minutes to write down my responsibilities, I find that my workload is less daunting than I make it out to be, and I feel less stressed than I did prior to taking the time to write it all out.

Burning Out More Quickly This Year

I’ve also found that since I’m experiencing more stress than usual this term, I became burned out much earlier than usual.  I was so relieved when Reading Week came earlier this year because I desperately needed that break and time to gather my thoughts.  In spite of this, now I feel stressed because the rest of the term is longer.  I’m worried about having to complete the rest without any scheduled time to breathe, so I’ve decided to make my own downtime!  To counteract my feelings of stress, apprehension and burnout, I make time for a break from schoolwork and work everyday. For me, every night I take some time to unwind and focus on things I enjoy.  During this time, I might catch up on a show, call a friend or even workout depending on what I feel like I need.  It’s not much, but I find that having time for myself every night when I’m not stressing about school also allows me to sleep better, which is ultimately beneficial to my mindset and overall health!

Support from Friends and Peers

Overall, I don’t think I have any profound advice that will completely turn things around for anyone, but I hope that knowing you're not alone in whatever you may be feeling about this school year is helpful.  It is especially difficult this year to friend friends and peers to share your feelings with because we are keeping our distance and staying apart due to the pandemic.  I’m happy to share that Laurier has introduced a new program called Peer Support. You can drop into Peer Support online and chat with other students, in a space that is moderated by students, to share your feelings and experiences.  Hopefully you will discover that you are not alone and that there are commonalities across all our experiences. 

What I wrote about here is just some of what I’m feeling and how I’m coping.  I’m just one of many students, so this doesn’t even scratch the surface of everything we are feeling as a community; however, as cliché as it may be: you are truly not alone, no matter what you are going through.

The Peer Wellness Educators are student volunteers who work with the Wellness Education Team in the Student Wellness Centre to supports the physical, emotional and psychological health of students at Laurier by promoting proactive wellness strategies and resources.  Visit the Peer Wellness Education page for more information or if you're interested in joining the team.