Student Blog: Burning Away with Work

I’m sure no one is a stranger to burnout. Whether it’s school work or an activity that you’re fond of, everyone experiences the dreadful feeling of having no motivation to pick their task up or even the energy to face it. It’s like everything has become strenuous, and you just want to lie in bed all day to escape it all.

I have burnouts a lot more than I’d like to admit these days, and it’s been helpful to know the causes of this massive weight hanging in the air. Busy schedules, too much socializing, having no space for myself and a lot of expectations to meet. A lot of it makes me dread having to look at my work and wonder what might happen for the worse, and in the end, I’ll avoid it at all costs with the guilt of not touching it. One thing tends to pile on another and it becomes one massive spiral that I plunge deeper and deeper into.

At the moment, I’m struggling with a burnout because of a few projects outside of university, most of which involve writing and drawing. To have the creative energy to fulfil both tasks is taking quite a toll on me, but I find that any writing and drawing I do outside of those projects are easier. It’s funny, really. When I don’t want to work on my art piece, I end up drawing in my sketchbook anyway. Perhaps it’s the pressure from the tasks, or the displeasure I get from drawing out of obligation instead of drawing what I want. It could also be the stress of having a lot to do now that I’m at home. People and places to see, errands to run, a lot of housework to take care off.

But it’s during these times that I find myself coping mechanisms to push through which also help me through a terrible burnout.

I’ve found ways to unleash that frustration of running into a block, depending on what they are. I’ve seen it all. Writer’s block, art block, homework block; there are quite a lot of blocks. If I’m stuck in a place, I’ll let my impulse lead me some place. Sometimes I’ll be itching to scribble something in my sketchbook. Sometimes I’ll need a good splurge of words on a page to unleash my thoughts. Sometimes I need to be around my friends, and sometimes, I need a nap. Everything tends to differ from time to time but allowing myself to what I’m feeling in the moment is a good way to release the tension of a burnout.

Aside from that, along with burnouts, the guilt of feeling like I was going nothing came with the package. It took a while to overcome that nasty feeling but I was told numerous times that resting is the most productive you can be during a burnout, which proved to be true. I always get back on my feet like nothing happened, which is quite a reward itself for allowing myself the luxury of resting even when I felt the urge to get something done. The urge is killer, I’ll tell you that.

Now that I’m back in my country for the summer, being outside of my house proves to be the best medicine for my burnouts. A long walk, maybe a trip to the mall where there’s more liveliness and just any amount of time in the sun. It’s the same routine I had during my first year in the UK when I had homework to do. Just me, my laptop and headphones, any anywhere I could sit with the sun. Sky gazing, in general, might be my favorite thing to do when I need a breather. I get spectacular views like the one that's in this blog. (Extra: The sky might be a common theme through my blogs.)

Other than personal remedies, being surrounded my friends who need to do work as well helps me a lot. Even if we’re not talking, being in the presence of people I trust and love very much makes for a good energizer. They are incredible motivation as well! There’s nothing like having or being a squad of personal cheerleaders.

There’s a quote I remember reading but I don’t know who or where from but it was along the lines of, “When you don’t have the energy to do a task, just don’t do it. Don’t tire yourself until you’re entirely drained. Use what energy you have to recharge then come back to it when you have more to spare.” It was something like that. But if it’s a dire situation, I have to come to terms with the fact that my best will always differ from day to day, so I try to expect less of myself when I’m feeling drearier on some other day.

There will always be something to give me that nudge to continue working through whatever it is that has me plunged into a burnout. If I can’t do the pushing myself, it’s always my friends who give me the biggest shove I need.

As of last week, my one source of joy is making paper lucky stars. They’ve really been keeping me from getting too worked up.

In the end, thankfully, the burnouts come as fast as they go. It’s always been difficult trying to stay idle so I’ll have to get myself working somehow. No one works through a burnout the same way as another person does, and these are just a few things I do to get through my nasty days.