What is Burnout?

What is Burnout?

According to Help Guide, burnout is “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.” This can happen in any setting: personal life and obligations, work, and especially school. With having to deal with all the changes due to the pandemic, it is no surprise that many of us have checked out long ago. The lack of physical interaction with family and friends, the change between in-person to virtual work/ school, and the losses of family and loved ones to the pandemic have all left us emotionally vulnerable. On top of this, workplaces and academia are still expecting the same, if not, better results from us which makes dealing with personal issues even harder.

Symptoms of burnout include: 

  • Feeling tired and drained most of the time.
  • Lowered immunity, frequent illnesses
  • Frequent headaches or muscle pain
  • Change in appetite or sleep habits
  • Sense of failure and self-doubt
  • Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated
  • Detachment, feeling alone in the world
  • Loss of motivation
  • Increasingly cynical and negative outlook
  • Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment

If you recognize any of these symptoms, you might be facing burnout. As things begin to reopen in California, you might feel rushed to return “back to normal” however, it is ok to still be processing everything that has happened this past year. We are all experiencing this pandemic in a variety of ways and you should not feel rushed into being okay with everything that has happened. For this reason, we advise you to also take a break this summer from academia if that is something you need. 

Other ways to confront burnout include:

  • Setting boundaries: You don’t have to say yes to everything you are asked to do! Value your needs first. 
  • Use your time off: Use your pay time off, you earned it! In addition, take a break during the summer! This is the time to recharge and prepare for the upcoming semester. 
  • Indulge in things you enjoy: Sometimes we feel guilty for “wasting time” on things we enjoy, but there is no waste in doing something that helps/ betters you! You are investing in your well-being and that is valuable.  

These are just three tips to avoid burnout but the most important thing is recognizing it is happening. By recognizing it, you are then able to pace yourself and schedule yourself back on track! Burnout is normal and we all experience it, you deserve a break. We all do. 

Source: HelpGuide – Burnout Prevention and Treatment

College Is Important. So Is Mental Health. Here’s How To Study Without Burning Out

College Is Important. So Is Mental Health. Here’s How To Study Without Burning Out

You’ve signed up for classes, you’ve learned your way around the virtual course system — and now, you’ve got to make sure you persist all the way to graduation.

Laptop or paper notes? Highlighter or flashcards? And does music help while studying? Here’s how to take better notes and study so that you remember what you’ve learned — without getting crushed by college stress. Plus: what to do if you do feel crushed.

Tips:

  1. Learn how to take notes.
  2. Get a planner and actually use it.
  3. When studying, don’t just put information into your brain. Draw it back out.
  4. Failure is not the end.
  5. Take care of yourself — and get some sleep.
  6. Let go of the stigma around mental health problems.
  7. Know when to reach out for help.

Click this link to the article with tips and resources to learn more about good study habits that will help you be a successful college student without burning out. This article includes written tips and a podcast for you to listen to. 

Source: Elissa Nadwordy, Education Reporter with NPR

 

Mental Health Resources for the AAPI Community

Mental Health Resources for the AAPI Community

Anti-Asian hate has been a persistent issue going back to when the Covid-19 pandemic began where the previous presidential administration partially and falsely blamed the Asian community. Eventually, escalating to the repeated attacks on the Asian community leading to one of the most recent shootings in Atlanta that left 8 people dead amid the rise of hate crime against Asian Americans. Social media platforms and news outlets have brought a highlight to this struggle by remembering the unfortunate lives that have been lost but also bringing a call to action on issues that have been long ignored. 

 Since March of 2020, over 3,800 cases of Anti-Asian hate have been reported. Although there have been fewer reports in cities like Chicago some claim that it might be due to other factors like a language barrier or immigration status. However, it is important to understand that these acts of hate crime are never justifiable and come with consequences. Reporting a hate crime should not be ignored because it could help prevent similar or worse encounters in the Asian community that we have seen.  

We understand that during these times of uncertainty, mental health can be a problem and it’s important to know where to find help or resources that can help you or your loved ones. Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) mental health experts have shared the following mental health resources specifically for Asian American communities designed to help those who may need a way to cope. If you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or fearful feel free to check these mental health resources or share them with anyone that might find them useful. 

Resources:

  • COVID-19: Reducing Stigma
    • Check out this video on how to reduce stigma. This video is part of the Asian American Mental Initiative COVID-19 and Mental Health video series. Stigma and discrimination can occur when people link with a particular group, which can create fear or anger to these people. The purpose of this video is to bring awareness of these situations and provide useful resources. 
  • Asian American Psychological Association 
    • Focuses on using research, education, policy, and professional practice to advance the mental health and well-being of Asian communities. Also provides fact sheets on Asian mental health concerns, anti-bullying information, and Asian American LGBTQ resources.
How to Combat Burnout

How to Combat Burnout

Productivity culture has led us to normalize working long hours, taking fewer breaks, and neglecting time for ourselves. We are pressured to be as productive as possible and feel ashamed if we are not; this has led us to feel guilty for relaxing. This constant pressure to be productive can cause an excessive amount of stress and lead to burnout. Burnout is feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted due to excessive hours of work. Burnout is different for everyone, but together we can share our experiences with burnout and learn from one another on ways to take care of ourselves and combat burnout.

Burnout can come from studying for an excessive amount of time every day without taking breaks! It is influenced by how we cope with stressful situations, most specifically with a build-up of assignments resulting from procrastination and otherworldly worries. Additionally, bad organizational habits and a poor diet can contribute to burnout. Burnout can also derive from overworking yourself in your work environment. 

Burnout has numerous degenerative impacts on our overall physical and mental health. Regarding the psychological implications, burnout is consequential to feelings of anger, depression, irritability, and an overall negative contributor to a negative self-image. In essence, burnout’s negative physical impacts are derivative of the psychological, including but are not limited to overwhelming feelings of fatigue, insomnia, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other degenerative health factors. Burnout is attributed to other disease epidemics and social and racially marginalizing systems of oppression; nonetheless, academic burnout is indeed a setback that hinders student’s lives holistically, increases college dropout, and includes suicidal ideations or definite actions. 

Although burnout is always a possibility, we can take steps to mitigate the effects. 

Exercises to Combat Burnout 

One of the exercises in Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck is a complete inventory of your work activities, personal commitments, and relationships. 

  • After making a list of your everyday activities, you have to rate each item on a scale of 1-10, based on how your body physically reacts to thinking about it. 
  • Do you physically tense up, get a heavy feeling in your stomach? Or do you feel light and energized?  
  • You can start with just one category, like relationships, work projects, or personal/leisure activities. 
  • How does each person/activity on your list make you feel? 
  • BONUS: (We are trying this) As a part of your weekly planning routine, answer this simple question. 
    • What will I say NO to this week? You don’t need to carry it all by yourself! 

Sources:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM-gEE-Di2W/?igshid=eh6py3swapj0

 burnout – APA Dictionary of Psychology

Power Down: 4 Ways to Fight Digital Burnout

By CHRISTOPHER GUIA CORTES, GREISY HERNANDEZ, NATHEN ORTIZ

How to Study While Also Prioritizing Your Mental Health

How to Study While Also Prioritizing Your Mental Health

With all the exams, assignments, and studying that has to be done, being a student can sometimes take a toll on your mental health. Despite these academic obligations, caring for ourselves is one of the most important things we can do to assure our mental and physical well-being. Obtaining good grades should not come at the cost of your mental health, so here are some helpful tips that you can follow while studying!

Tips for studying and having a good semester/quarter!

  • Pomodoro method: This method allows you to rest in between studying as it requires you to work for 25 minutes straight. Once completing a successful study session, you are able to reward yourself with a 5-minute study break. During these short breaks, we recommend that you drink water and have a light snack. It is important that we care for our bodies and one way we can do this is by staying hydrated and ensuring that we eat a full meal at least once a day.
  • Be organized: Google Drive: Create folders and make tabs dedicated for each of your classes. Make sure you title your google document with the name of the assignment followed by the due date.
  • Google Calendar: We recommend that you schedule your study times and be specific about what readings or tasks you aim to complete during that time. Additionally, at the beginning of the semester/quarter, make sure that you read your class syllabus and be mindful of upcoming deadlines. Staying organized by using a physical agenda or a platform like Google Calendar allows you to stay on track with any assignments you need to complete and allows you to schedule your time accordingly in order to avoid overbooking yourself.
  • Reach out to resources and services at your school: Inquire about any accommodations made available through your school’s Disability Services Center that can offer you a reduced course load, extra time on exams/assignments, and priority registration for classes. Further resources such as the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Health Services (e.g. access to free therapy), and academic or major advisors, may further aid you through your college journey. Additionally, we encourage you to attend weekly tutoring, go to office hours, reach out to your peers, and keep an eye out for study jams that are hosted by student-led organizations for further academic help. These also make for good opportunities to meet new people and get in contact with certain organizations on Campus!

Lastly, be aware of your capacity:

Take note of ALL your roles in and outside of school. Practice saying no or allow yourself to take a mental health day off when you need it. Avoid cramming and burnout by being aware of your capacity, (DON’T OVERBOOK YOURSELF)! Ask for extensions, most professors and faculty will be understanding and willing to work with you, especially during this pandemic. We also recommend that you practice the art of skimming. No one expects you to complete all readings assigned to you so learning how to skim readings and focusing on the most important topics will allow you to get the main points of the readings assigned. Lastly, we urge you all to celebrate every win, no matter how small! Remember that what you are accomplishing as a student is no easy task so be nice to yourself!

“If you get tired, learn to rest not to quit” – Banksy

By ANAHI CRUZ BAUTISTA, DENI RODRIGUEZ