hey! do you have any tips for avoiding burnout when there’s just so much to do? i usually go really hard the first few days of the week and then crash for the rest, which ends up making me fall behind and feel worse. i’m really struggling to find a balance between staying productive and not completely draining myself :D
Hey Anon! :) Thanks for the ask :D
You can also refer to How To Study / Work During A Burnout
How To Avoid Burnout While Studying
Periodic Gaps
Breaks are seriously important. I don't follow pomodoro and it doesn't really work for me. I recommend taking breaks when you are actually tired. It doesn't matter if you work straight for 1 hour and then take a break. I feel like it's better than taking unnecessary breaks.
Snacking / Hydration
Snacking and hydration are a must. I recommend light snacking like nuts or fruits or some chocolates. I wouldn't go for heavy meals because they always make me feel sleepy.
Breaks
Breaks should be taken when you start feeling tired. Don't push yourself. The best way to recuperate is to rest. Appropriate break time is important. I usually divide my study time by half and that is my break time.
Break = Study Time / 2
Sleep
Sleep is a must. Don't sacrifice your sleep for studying. During exams, 7-8 hours of sleep is a must. Don't stay awake after 12, you'll regret it. And sleep is different from breaks. You should not consider them the same.
"Off Days"
This concept worked well for me because i'll be honest, it was relaxing. Have "off days". At least 1 day per week. On this day, you don't work, you don't study. You just relax. And I know you may say, "I don't have time to rest" or "I'll fall behind" but it's better than forcing yourself to work and grind and then ending up not working for days. So, have off days.
Tip: I'll recommend Saturdays because it's perfect for the day off. On Sunday you'll be worrying about the work due on Monday. The rest of the days wouldn't give you rest because of school.
Prioritize
You need not do all your work at the beginning of the week. Work should be spread out over days. Prioritizing work is what needs to be done. Write everything that should be done (or make a mental check list) and then write the due dates for all the assignments and then align your energy and study sessions accordingly.
Manage Energy
Managing your energy is quite easy. You divide your tasks based on three categories. Low level. Middle level. High level.
Low level tasks include reviewing notes and flashcards.
Middle level tasks include assignments and projects.
High level tasks include learning a topic from scratch, solving a practice paper.
Now figure out your energy level tasks and accordingly align your tasks to your energy. It's easier than forcing yourself to do a high-level energy task when you're on low energy.
These tasks may be different for everyone. A high-level task for you may be middle or low level for someone else.
Burnout Effect
In one way, burnout is good. Honestly, some people's highest point is 30 mins or an hour. They find burnout creeping in after some time had passed. And that is why, if you want to reach at least two hours of studying. You need to push that limit. Every single time. Try moving 30 mins every week. Your max limit is 1 hour. Then this week, study for 1 hr 30 mins. The next week, study for 2hrs. then 2hr 30 mins. Do it for a few weeks.
If you don't push yourself to the max limit. Then you'll never actually reach your goal.
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Additional Posts That May Be Helpful
How To Study For Longer Hours
An Absolute Guide To Manage Your Time And Energy For School
Floor To Ceiling Method
How To Study Multiple Subjects
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Hope This Helps :))
How To Study Multiple Subjects
As someone who had studied 4 subjects plus 2 languages and additional courses and extra curricular when i was homeschooled and in high school, obviously i got used to studying multiple subjects. It's fairly easy and interesting.
Here's the thing, multiple subjects is a blessing in disguise. It's easy to study many subjects because you have variety. Your brain loves variety. So, here's some tips...
Maintain Good Study Material
The mistake most students make is that they don't have the basic ground foundation. They don't know what's on the syllabus, how its structure is. Literally nothing. Many students i know, only search for their materials like two days before their exam and they panic. So, gather the following at the beginning of the school year/semester:
Textbooks (If you have any)
Practice papers
Previous year papers
Extra reading materials/ Reference books
If you don't have any textbooks. Go through the topics that you have and gather resources from different sources.
Different Notebooks For Every Subjects
I really don't understand the concept of using a single notebook for like 5-6 subjects. Like, you literally can't manage it. Even if you divide sections in the book, it will get confusing and sometimes the pages won't even be enough. So, just get a notebook for each subject. It will help you stay organized.
Divide Subjects.
Every subject is learnt and graded in a different way. You can’t use the same study techniques for every subject you have. You have mostly 3 types of subjects:
Memorization based
Practical/Question based
Theory/Essay based
You use different study techniques for different subjects. Memorization based subjects require more revision. Practical/Question based subjects require more practice. Theory based subjects require you to learn how to format your information.
Read up more: Division Of Subjects
Easy VS Difficult Subjects For You
Take a paper and write all your subjects. Now, draw a line and write your difficult subjects on one side and easy subjects on the other side. And then rate it from the most interesting to the most boring and categorize it. And then rank them on which ones take the same place. You'll get an idea of where you stand with your subjects and now you can study accordingly.
2 Subjects Per Day
This is the most important one i always recommend. If you're studying, then only 2 subjects per day should be taken up for it. Pair an interesting subject with a lighter one. If you hate accounts or find it difficult but you love English, then that's your combo. Make combinations and write them down. You can change them any day based on mood or you can keep them the same. It's up to you.
Standard Subject
I usually like to have at least one standard subject every day. That was accounts for me because i was so bad at it. The goal is not to ignore the subject until it is harder than usual. The goal is to study it every day. That subject must be your weakest one.
Breaks
Breaks are really necessary. I advise you to not allot a certain time limit for the break. Rather take a break when you actually feel tired. If you've worked for 2 hours straight, then you deserve an hour of rest. If you worked for just 30 mins and you feel tired, take 15 mins as your break. Divide your work time by half and that is your break time.
Subject Alignment With Energy
Your weakest subject must be done in your highest energy in order for you to grasp the actual concepts. That's the main aspect of it. Low energy = Easy subjects. High energy = Harder subjects. You have to identify your core energy grids and align your subjects accordingly.
Chunk Information
Group all your facts together. Instead of studying like everything is completely unrelated, study like it's all connected. If you want to learn something, chunk all your facts together. Create a visual chunk. Make everything related.
Use Mnemonics & Storytelling
Learn with these two. These help you to remember easily. Make stories and catchy phrases to remember points/facts. These are like the building blocks of studying anything. Stick small notes to your books writing the small stories and phrases beside the topic so the next time you want to revise it, it's easy.
Cheat Sheets
Create small cheat sheets. Write them down. No digital notes. Because you have physical copies. Make formulae sheets, theories, everything for every subject you are learning and keep them in different folders. Don't mix your sheets. You'll get overwhelmed. During revision, this will help a lot.
Fake Exams & Improvement Sheets
Create a fake exam environment. Sit on your desk with a timer, take a question paper and act as if you're actually writing the exam. Do this at least once and note everything. How much time you take to answer each question. What are your mistakes. Which section is your weakest. Note them down and most importantly, your overall improvements you should make.
For me, I did this for accounts, and it gave me so much clarity especially the improvements. I used to go through this improvement sheet before my actual exam and i did not repeat even a single mistake again. The trick is to keep updating the sheet by adding improvements from your actual exams too.
Testing At Random Times
I did this mostly during travel time. If i learnt a specific topic some time ago. And if i had nothing to do then I'd just mentally ask myself a question about that topic and answer it. Many times, even i am surprised the questions i ask, it gives a deep understanding of the topic. I used to even connect it to other concepts. Ask questions relating both. It's even better if you jump from one subject to the other.
Connect Similar Topic
Connect all your related subjects. Everything in school is somehow connected. I usually used to connect economics and business studies concepts. Sometimes even computers so... Connect them.
Practice Subjects Need More Time
Subjects like Accountancy, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Maths need more time because they are in one way more practical. They require practice. Whether it be experiments o through sums. Invest more time in these subjects.
PYQ's
Use past year question papers because nothing shows important topics like pyq's. Note and mark the repeated questions and review them repeatedly. This really helps.
Read up more: How do you actually use previous year question papers
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Hope this helps :))
And a reminder that higher education cannot be considered truly democratised if students can still be doomed to poverty with multiple or advanced arts and Humanities degrees...
It's okay to be bad at something new. Normalize people who want to keep trying without them feeling ashamed for being bad at it.
An honest study tip is don't try to romanticize studying. Like, it's good but it works for around a week and then you're back to your lazy couch potato because you can't even sit and study and now you have added extra things that need to be done to actually study. You've added more steps.... Which makes it an even harder task.
Try actually being.... Let's say scared? Recently, I've got this interesting tip, I actually think about the worst possible result I could get and the reactions I'd get and that always gets me going. Because fear is always a better motivator.
♥️ love train! send this to all the blogs you love! don’t forget to spread the love! ♥️ (no pressure only if u want to ofc)
Hello :)
Thanks, really appreciate it! <3
If you get this, answer with 5 random facts about yourself and then send it to the last 7 blogs in your notifications. Let's get to know the people behind the blogs! No pressure though 🤍
Hello :)
Let's see...
If i could eat only one thing for the rest of my life, I'd choose Macaroni xD
I'm allergic to citric so oranges and lemons are really like the gateways for me to get a cold
I have a really big soft spot for spicy food
I dislike dark romance books
I have sudden urges to just leave everything and go farway to a remote place and live there forever.
That's it :) thank you for sending and sorry for the late reply!
╰┈➤ My name is Penelope and I use she/they pronouns ^~^
╰┈➤ I'm a high school freshman trying to figure out what I want to do with my life :)
╰┈➤ core classes - english lit 9 - world history - 2D physics - algebra 2
╰┈➤ additional classes - chinese II - health
╰┈➤ electives - python I (sem. 1) - design for stage and screen (sem. 2)
╰┈➤ why I joined studyblr - to get advice from other students like me - posting notes pics encourages me to rewrite them to study - to motivate myself to study harder - I want to start this year confident and prepared :D
╰┈➤ goals for this year - make the varsity volleyball team [completed!] - learn how to write for fun again - avoid burnout!!
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@myhoneststudyblr, @stingraystudiess, @studyblrspace, @gushuwa, @study-diaries, @thelailasblog, and @ashs-reverie :D
i have a question: why do you keep sabotaging yourself? why is it that as soon as you think something is just out of your reach you do everything you can to get in your own way? why is it that as soon as things seem to be going right, you plant your feet and sit on the ground with your legs crossed?
you're not fucking lucky. you worked for it, you sweated, and you cried, and you sacrificed so much to reach the level of knowledge and skill you have now.
have you worked so hard only to say "how lucky"? no, damn it, i won't let you. you may not be a genius, you may not be the best in the world, but do you fucking think anyone could do what you did? do you think anyone could get to where you are? do you believe that anyone has the possibilities that you have?
put this in your head, you are not unexpressed potential, you are exceptional and with your hard work you can achieve unimaginable things. stop wasting your dreams just because they seem too big for the drawer.
edit : in italian we say "dream in the drawer" when we refer to a hope that is unlikely to come true, but not impossible.
ex. my dream in the drawer is to become a famous singer all over the world
(just in case you didn't understand the last sentence)
Funny thing how i actually didn't message up today's tryouts ... I'm thankful and shocked honestly... Anyway, nothing that interesting today, I've been making small progress everyday to atleast touch my textbooks... Midterms start from 18th .... No idea how I'm gonna complete everything in such a short period of time...
Today I:
Learnt some accounts topics
Prepared for debate
Finished 1 lesson in english
Completed Arabic assignment
So, my summer break starts now and let's say that I'm gonna do this challenge. Basically, I'll try to finish the books given below :))
It's basically my reading list now xD
A Court Of Frost And Starlight - Sarah J Maas
Stalking Jack The Ripper series - Kerri Maniscalco (I have to start from the 3rd book)
Escaping from Houdini (3) (✓)
Becoming the dark prince (3.5) (✓)
Capturing the devil (4)
Let's see if i can complete it :D
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