In the Burnout2Balance––Win the Future program, I teach the skills to avoid burnout to move towards balance as a success strategy with three components: a buddy system, boundaries and better behaviors. In the three-month long program, you will learn how to retool your time thinking to mitigate mental exhausted and migrate to academic productive. This track leads to graduation and great life success.
From Burnout To Balance – Tactic #3
So far in this series of articles I spoke about the three key tactics of the program. In the previous two entries (article #1 can be found here and article #2 here), I emphasize that pre-planning a schedule and getting a writing partner or an academic coach like me are two essential ways that anyone can complete their course of studies. In this final article I will lay out the activities that make enable the third tactic work. The tactic is ‘better behaviors’ and it ranges from (1) managing your time to get the more done out of it to (8) keeping stress down so that you can maintain clear thinking. Before breaking down each tactic in the overall plan to have better behaviors however, I will remind you what is the burnout phenomenon.
While burnout is not a medical condition, prolonged or repeated feelings of mental and physical exhaustion have fueled the concept, “that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity” (www.mayoclinic.org). It’s a haunting sense of having no more to put into the job, studying, family life and personal care. It can however, be totally avoided, and over three months, I can power you to carry on to win your productivity that leads to attaining your degree.
The Facts To Writing
My program begins by acknowledging that there is nearly no way you can write a thesis or dissertation to finish a course of higher education in a timely fashion, without making some adjustments to your daily habits and routine. That is to say, if you have managed to the point of completing all your coursework without adopting some better behaviors, consider yourself lucky. The luck will however, run out if you do not make some adjustments to how you use time. In order to get the thesis or dissertation aspect done – with little or no structured class time support – you must reorganize your schedule to accommodate focused, uninterrupted time that is committed to writing.
As such, the focus on this third article is laying out some tactics that you can implement in your use of time to create the atmosphere, window of opportunity and head space you will need to research and write that final big paper. Here are some of my top tips:
Manage your time effectively:
Create a schedule or a to-do list that allows you to prioritize tasks and allocate time for breaks and self-care activities. Avoid overloading yourself with too many commitments and be realistic about what you can accomplish within a given timeframe. To understand what time you need to accomplish a task is sometimes a case of gauging and adjusting as you go along. Therefore, no not be hard on yourself if you underestimated a time-task activity, just adjust for it next time and keep moving.
Set realistic goals: Set attainable goals for yourself rather than striving for perfection. Break down large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. Celebrate your achievements along the way, which can help you stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Take regular breaks: Breaks are essential for maintaining focus and preventing mental exhaustion. Incorporate short breaks into your study routine, such as a 5-10 minute break every hour or two. During these breaks, engage in activities that help you relax and recharge, such as stretching, going for a walk, or listening to music.
Practice self-care: Make sure to prioritize self-care activities to maintain your overall well-being. Engage in activities you enjoy, such as hobbies, exercise, spending time with friends and family, or pursuing creative outlets. Taking care of your physical and mental health will contribute to your academic success.
Establish a support system:
Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, or classmates who can provide encouragement and understanding. Share your concerns and challenges with them, as talking about your feelings can help alleviate stress and provide a fresh perspective.
Seek help when needed: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek help from your teachers, academic advisors, or counseling services available at your educational institution. They can offer guidance, resources, or strategies to cope with academic stress.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Ensure you’re getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and staying physically active. A healthy lifestyle contributes to your overall well-being and helps combat fatigue and stress.
Practice stress management techniques: Explore different stress management techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness, or journaling. These techniques can help you relax, focus, and reduce anxiety.
Remember that preventing academic burnout requires a proactive approach and a balance between your academic responsibilities and personal well-being. By implementing these strategies and listening to your mind and body’s needs, you can reduce the risk of burnout and maintain a healthier academic journey.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, think of the overall strategy you would be employing if you implemented these tactics as compartmentalization. In compartmentalizing your time, as you learn how to assign time-task limitations, you would be learning exactly how valuable your time is, what activities is worth spending it on and those that are less so. The understanding of it being limited and an irreplaceable, finite resource will also happen. You would also be teaching yourself a higher level of awareness of yourself, activities, what is meaningful to you and what things are trivial.
So my parting message is this, for the time it takes to learn by implement these new skills, the tangible pay out of finishing your degree is half the gain. The other half of learning to compartmentalize your time is that you are practicing how to value yourself at a next level of functioning. That practice friends, is what enables you to go forward in the professional work and make a mark for all to see your name.
If you are interested in my assistance with nailing down the habits that are involved in adopting better behaviors as a tactic in my Burnout2Balance––Win the Future program, please contact me for a first, free session. It would be my pleasure to help you get on the path to success.