How to Prevent Burnout While Preparing for Master's Degree

Academic burnout is a common but very alarming concern among students. As the difficulty level increases, this pressure keeps on rising, and there comes a time when it becomes unmanageable. Although you can take help with writing assignment to lessen your burden, it is equally necessary to know what the causes are and how you can fix such a problem.

So, this is what will be discussed in this article. You will see in detail what burnout looks like, what its causes are and how you can solve them. Therefore, let's begin and see all the things in detail.

What Does Burnout Look Like?

Burnout looks and feels different for everyone. Some of you might lack motivation, while others might struggle to focus. It can also range from mild with one or two symptoms to severe with signs so unmanageable that you might consider dropping out of school. So, let's see what some warning signs of burnout are.

• Fatigue

When you feel physically exhausted, it is a classic sign of burnout. Although it can be a sign of other conditions like a viral infection, if it is directly related to your studies, then it is burnout.

• Mental Exhaustion

You can feel intellectual exhaustion like brain fog, which makes it difficult for you to process new details. As a master's student, you have to think and learn critically for an extended period of time, which leads to intellectual tiredness.

• Physical Symptoms

Like many other mental conditions, burnout also manifests itself physically. While these sensations may differ from student to student, common signs are: headaches, indigestion, tightness, and tension.

• Difficulty In Retaining Details

If you are struggling to absorb details, then it can be a sign of burnout. Although it is normal to struggle to intake information after a few hours of studying, it is unnatural to feel like it all the time.

• Procrastination

This is also a classic sign of burnout. If you are coming up with excuses not to study, like cleaning your apartment or filling your schedule with social activities, these are all examples of avoidance and procrastination.

• Decline In Academic Performance

A decline in your academic performance can also be a sign of burnout. If you are a straight-A student and suddenly you are getting Bs & Cs, then you can blame burnout as a culprit.

• Apathy Towards School

A newfound apathy towards learning can also be a sign of burnout. When you are no longer excited about learning new things in school or put as much effort into your assignments, then burnout is the cause.

• Anxiety and Depression

Burnout is also closely related to depression and anxiety. If you are feeling any of those symptoms, then you know what the problem is. Its signs can look like restlessness, irritability, problems concentrating, etc.

So, these are some of the symptoms of burnout. To know about these signs in detail, you can seek help from experts at Assignment Desk.

Causes of Burnout and Their Fixes

In this section, you will see what some causes lead to burnout and what you can do to fix them. It will help you to cope with the daily grind as a master's student. So, let's look at them in detail.

• Lack of Sleep

As a master's student, you have to complete your thesis, term papers, and TA work. This leads to a lack of sleep, and as a by-product, it harms your health and mental well-being.

The fix:

• Stick to a healthy sleep schedule
• Sleep in a quiet, dark room
• Limit your intake of food and alcohol before bedtime.

• Build a nighttime routine.

• An overburdened Schedule

It is challenging to handle a schedule when you are doing your master's. Between your classes, completing your thesis and trying to get your work published, your calendar is full. This leads to fatigue and a lack of motivation.

The Fix:

• Learn to say "no" to things that do not serve your goals.
• Limit your social engagements and only say "yes" when you can.

• Poor Diet and Exercise Habits

When you are in grad school, exercising and eating healthy feel like luxuries that you simply have no time for. So, when you neglect your health and diet, it leaves you feeling depressed and burned out.

The Fix:

• To keep yourself healthy, you must find simple ways to eat healthy and exercise regularly.
• You can go to the gym three times a week, go to a yoga class, or even prepare healthy meals on your off days.

• Poor Time Management

You will meet some grad students who are on top of their work, attending social events, going to the gym and have an internship lined up for next summer. They can all do this because they know how to manage time. If you lack this ability, then read the fix.

The Fix:

• Prioritise organisation and time management..
• Invest in a system that helps you tackle all your school work and allows you to take control of your life and academics.
• You can use Google Calendar, Notion, or Asana.

• Lack of Planning

Just like poor time management, no proper planning can also cause burnout. When you don't plan in advance, you are most likely to miss deadlines, pull all-nighters, cram for exams and rush to class for lectures.

The Fix:

• Use a journal, planner or online project management tools that will help you to plan and stay on track.
• You must also include time for sleep, healthy eating and exercising to prevent burnout.

• Unrealistic Goals

While it is great to have high goals, unrealistic ones often lead to exhaustion and discouragement. Of course, you want a job lined up for yourself after graduation, but unachievable goals will set you up for disappointment, sleepless nights, and overbooked days.

The Fix:

• Be realistic about your objectives.
• Try to set SMART (i.e., specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-constrained) goals.

• Prolonged Stress

Stress from anything is the leading cause of burnout, along with lack of motivation and fatigue. You, as a grad student, may experience many stressors that may lead to a weak immune system or chronic conditions.

The Fix:

• You must check yourself periodically as to how you are feeling physically and emotionally.
• Moreover, you can consider science-based measures like meditation, yoga, etc.

• Not Taking Time to Relax

When your to-do list seems to grow exponentially whenever you check your email, it is hard to relax. If you are juggling too many tasks at one time, then it is next to impossible to take a breather.

The Fix:

• You don't have to set aside an entire weekend to relax when smaller sessions can do the trick.
• Indulge in self-care, go for a walk or take five minutes to stretch and breathe.

• Not Making Time for Fun

If you do not take time out to have fun, it will lead to stress and burnout. Although it can be hard to fit social events and hobbies around your master's, it is essential to feel alive.

The Fix:

• Plan time to hang out with your friends.
• Be intentional and put time in your calendar to have fun.

• Not Taking Support

Whenever you are overburdened with work, you tend to isolate yourself from friends and family. This negatively impacts your mental health and can also lead to depression.

The Fix:

• Learn to ask for help.
• If you feel signs of burnout, reach out to a trusted ally, family member or mentor.

So, these are some common signs of burnout and how you can fix these problems. If you want help with exams, you can also download free exam help PDF from the website.

Final Thoughts

Here are some of the causes and fixes for academic burnout. You must not neglect your health and watch out for these signs. Moreover, you must seek outside help if you feel the above-mentioned solutions are not working out for you. If you need any help regarding this topic, you can also take help with assignment writing. You must remember that you matter and are loved by many. So, reach out and ask for assistance.