IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE LEAVES WILL HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED COLOR, AND THE HUMID AIR HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A FRIGID BREEZE. THIS USUALLY  MEANS THAT THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WILL BE FOUND BURIED UNDERNEATH TEXTBOOKS AND CLASS NOTES. SO LONG SUMMER DAYS, HELLO HECTIC LIFE!

If there’s one phrase that was over-used in my Human Services classes in college, it was definitely the term, “burnout”. My program was emotionally demanding, as my internships consisted mostly of working with the homeless community and with those who were bereaved or palliative. Every class, our professors asked us what we were doing to avoid burnout. Maybe it was that they ran this concept so deeply into my brain, or maybe it was because it truly struck a chord, but the idea of burnout has stuck with me since.

By definition, burnout is the “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration”. This idea extends to more than just human service professionals. Too much stress of any kind could result in total burnout. Symptoms may include feeling tired most of the time, loss of motivation, increase in a negative outlook, isolating yourself, among others.

Clearly, you can’t avoid your daily responsibilities in fear of burnout, so what can you do to prevent it? These prevention tips carry one connecting theme: take time for yourself.

• Take at least 15 minutes each day to meditate, write in your journal, stretch, or read something inspiring.
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle: eat right, exercise regularly, and sleep enough! This provides you with the energy to deal with whatever life throws at you.
• Learn how to say “no”. Set boundaries and don’t overextend yourself. I used to be terrible at this because I didn’t want people to think they couldn’t depend on me. Thankfully, my parents stepped in with this advice: “Saying no now can allow you to say yes to more important things later”.
• Get creative! Be crafty, take photos, try a new recipe, participate in your favorite hobby or discover a new one… Choose something that has nothing to do with work.
• Learn how to manage stress

As you’re in the midst of studying for the next midterm, or juggling work, school and home, try exercising these preventions tips. You may find yourself feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever the next day has in store.