As midterms roll around, that means we are rounding the halfway point of the semester, and it is important for students to stay strong academically.
According to Crown Counseling, 55% of college students experience academic burnout, and at the Communiqué we understand how sudden burnout can occur. However, keeping your foot on the gas pedal and staying on top of assignments will pay dividends of success going forward.
Results of burnout vary. Twenty percent of college students experience GPA decline. 30% consider dropping out. Crown Counseling also said 53% of students face anxiety symptoms and 60% face poor sleep quality upon facing burnout.
There are an array of factors that cause burnout. Examples include academic pressures, time management, financial stress, social pressures and personal factors.
We believe that there are ways to prevent the likelihood of burnout happening in the latter half of the semester that might be crucial for whether or not you succeed in your classes.
A simple trick that can be helpful is rewarding yourself. Let’s say you are writing a six-page essay. After every two pages that are written, you can give yourself a 30-minute break. This even works in a broader sense. After you complete all of your homework, you can have a bowl of ice cream. This creates an actual incentive to doing your homework as opposed to it seeming like a burden.
Another way to stay strong for the rest of the semester could be a better form of scheduling. Instead of doing every assignment the day of its due date, you can try giving yourself more days in advance to complete these obligations. Students can greatly benefit from an updated calendar or a planning notebook. Winning on the time management side is a win for your mental well-being, and we believe that this can significantly help you finish the semester strong.
On campus there are a plethora of resources that can help you succeed and offer as much guidance and help as seen necessary.
The Learning Commons in Cedar Hall is designed to help with the very problem of academic burnout. Any Kirkwood student can indulge in these free study support services.
Kirkwood also offers Counseling Services, Engagement and Success coach services, the Library, the Writing Center and many other places to help students succeed.
Only 20% of struggling students seek support, according to Crown Counseling. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and use all of these resources to help you soar!
Categories: Opinion, Staff Editorials
