How to Prevent End-of-the-Year Burnout

It’s that time of year: the weather is warming up, birds are chirping, and the daylight hours are getting longer. With the exuberance of Spring also come perhaps the hardest months of the school year: the last few. As the warmer months approach, distractions abound, so let’s talk about how to keep your focus as the school year winds down. Below are 5 tips we hope will help you to have a successful homestretch.

1. Remember that the end is near: In this case, that ominous-sounding statement is actually a positive one. You’ve come a long, long way since the fall. Over the past seven months, you’ve endured papers, tests, projects, presentations, seemingly never-ending notetaking, and all the other rigmarole that goes with school. BUT this also means that better than 70% of the year is behind you and when you look at it that way, it kind of feels like you can do the last 30 standing on your head (but don’t.) Beginning with the end in mind is a great way to keep yourself motivated. Indeed, as Pablo Coelho said, “when you want something, the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.”

2. Stay healthy: I’ve written in the past about the importance of physical activity and healthy habits for students. As the end approaches, this is more important than ever. Burnout is a real thing, defined as a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that is caused by excessive and prolonged stress. A healthy lifestyle has been proven again and again to help prevent fatigue; and learning and practicing self-care strategies is vital in staying focused, sharp, and feeling good for the duration.

3. Ask for help: If you’re really overwhelmed and feeling like you’re burning the candle at both ends, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Therapists and counselors are experts in helping you learn positive coping skills and in teaching you how to reduce your stress levels. Your school also has resources for helping when you’re overtaxed, and so does your community: let your parents, tutors, and teachers know you need assistance. Stress can often make us feel that we are alone, but the truth is that, today more than ever before, our society is cultivating a deep understanding of mental health issues and offering more and more ways to help those struggling to stay on top of everything.

4. Learn relaxation techniques: From a simple short walk in a quiet park to a complex meditation routine, there are literally hundreds of ways to get yourself to relax. Unfortunately, we often turn to methods that aren’t that healthy, like starting at our screens. You might even consider “going dark,” meaning turning those devices off in the name of calming your brain and slowing things down. Taking some time to learn how to relax can really help you to make it through stressful times. Breathing exercises, guided imagery, and even drawing or coloring can help soothe the pressure of school.

5. Stay organized: It’s easy to slip on organization and deadlines when we begin to see the end of the year coming. But this is the time when avoiding procrastination and staying on top of assignments is vitally important. The last thing you want is for the end of your schoolyear to be filled with last-minute cramming. Even little things like keeping your bookbag and locker neat will help you to have a smooth landing as the year winds down.Just because summer is coming that doesn’t mean you can ditch your calendar. Yet. What you do with your planner after the final school bell of the year rings is up to you.

Early congratulations to all of you! You’re almost done…follow the above tips to ensure you stay on task, relaxed, and positive as you start to look forward to the cool breezes and easy living of summer vacation.

Written by Phil Lane

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