As university students, we are constantly busy. Whether that be with midterm deadlines, society obligations or a never-ending stream of flat parties, it can be easy to fall into the trap of overworking yourself.
Fuelled by the rise of FOMO (the fear of missing out), it is almost becoming an inevitability, having too many things on your plate at once, but why else is this the case, and what can we do to prevent burnout?
A crucial factor in the growing obligation for students to keep doing more and more is social media. With the rise of the study aesthetic, alongside the need to be a ‘365-party girl,’ it is becoming expected that everyone should have two personalities and be 100 per cent both of them.
When scrolling through Instagram, it is common to see successive stories posted by the same person, on the same day: one of which is them in the library, focusing on their studies; followed by an idyllic looking flat dinner complete with wholesome vibes of bunting and candles; immediately succeeded by pictures from the club. This promotes an ever-growing, impossible lifestyle to keep up with, yet as the desire to fulfil this dream continues to grow, so will your workload…
This world of comparison poses a dangerous threat as more and more young people experience more frequent and severe burnouts each year. I myself fall victim to the obligation to do as much as I can physically handle, this being the third newspaper article I write this week, despite my midterms’ deadline rapidly approaching.
The pressure to maintain high standards for yourself, academically and socially, can be extremely intense as many struggle to balance their priorities. Furthermore, this is exacerbated as students do not attend university simply to get a degree. It is the experience they gain from participating in societies that can help set them apart in the future job hunt.
Job hunting and academics aside, it is also crucial to maintain a social life and stay in touch with friends, rendering it almost impossible not to do too much!!
Hence, it is clearly an easy mistake to overwork yourself, but it is important to make sure that when you notice yourself getting overwhelmed and struggling to keep up, you give yourself a break.
Helpful pick-me-ups could include a self-care night of a face mask and a favourite film, or maybe, if it’s accessible, a trip home. For many students, a few days at home can be the true way to relax, as they are completely removed from the university system.
Ultimately, burning the candle at both ends is something every student falls victim to at some point during university. However, the recovery from these burnouts, and how you learn to avoid them next time, is what really matters. Remember to leave yourself some time for yourself, and everything will be fine.
“Burning My Candle at Both Ends” by gfpeck is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
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Burning the Candle at both Ends: Do we Feel an Obligation to do Too Much?
As university students, we are constantly busy. Whether that be with midterm deadlines, society obligations or a never-ending stream of flat parties, it can be easy to fall into the trap of overworking yourself.
Fuelled by the rise of FOMO (the fear of missing out), it is almost becoming an inevitability, having too many things on your plate at once, but why else is this the case, and what can we do to prevent burnout?
A crucial factor in the growing obligation for students to keep doing more and more is social media. With the rise of the study aesthetic, alongside the need to be a ‘365-party girl,’ it is becoming expected that everyone should have two personalities and be 100 per cent both of them.
When scrolling through Instagram, it is common to see successive stories posted by the same person, on the same day: one of which is them in the library, focusing on their studies; followed by an idyllic looking flat dinner complete with wholesome vibes of bunting and candles; immediately succeeded by pictures from the club. This promotes an ever-growing, impossible lifestyle to keep up with, yet as the desire to fulfil this dream continues to grow, so will your workload…
This world of comparison poses a dangerous threat as more and more young people experience more frequent and severe burnouts each year. I myself fall victim to the obligation to do as much as I can physically handle, this being the third newspaper article I write this week, despite my midterms’ deadline rapidly approaching.
The pressure to maintain high standards for yourself, academically and socially, can be extremely intense as many struggle to balance their priorities. Furthermore, this is exacerbated as students do not attend university simply to get a degree. It is the experience they gain from participating in societies that can help set them apart in the future job hunt.
Job hunting and academics aside, it is also crucial to maintain a social life and stay in touch with friends, rendering it almost impossible not to do too much!!
Hence, it is clearly an easy mistake to overwork yourself, but it is important to make sure that when you notice yourself getting overwhelmed and struggling to keep up, you give yourself a break.
Helpful pick-me-ups could include a self-care night of a face mask and a favourite film, or maybe, if it’s accessible, a trip home. For many students, a few days at home can be the true way to relax, as they are completely removed from the university system.
Ultimately, burning the candle at both ends is something every student falls victim to at some point during university. However, the recovery from these burnouts, and how you learn to avoid them next time, is what really matters. Remember to leave yourself some time for yourself, and everything will be fine.
“Burning My Candle at Both Ends” by gfpeck is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
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