By: Julia Leroux
Our Women in Business Vice President, Lara Pereira, recently held a meeting that discussed a very relevant topic to us all: burnout. Lara did an excellent job explaining what burnout is, and she gave techniques on how she overcomes it. I’m sure we’ve all been feeling overwhelmed and stressed from the first semester back to in-person classes, and this Thanksgiving break will give us all some time to recharge our bodies and minds for the last few weeks of school.
Spend time with loved ones
Many of us, including myself, have transitioned back to living on campus or in off-campus housing from living at home for a whole year. This Thanksgiving break I plan on spending time with my family and friends that I have not seen due to being back in Amherst full-time. Those quick phone calls or FaceTimes home do not compare to being in your own living room or kitchen and conversing with family face-to-face. Being with family can bring a sense of comfort and allow one to focus on family time rather than classes.
Make a schedule
Although some professors do assign work over Thanksgiving break, it is important not to stress yourself out over assignments or group projects with upcoming due dates. I found that making a schedule and allotting a time frame for each assignment can allow yourself to work on those items, but it also limits spending too much time on school. Carving out time for school is important as it will prevent one from getting behind on work during the week, but it also encourages time for other enjoyable activities while home.
Get some sleep
Most of us spend our weeknights studying for exams, completing assignments and homework, or working at our jobs; and we spend our weekends out with friends until 2 am. Now we have the opportunity to finally get some sleep and allow our bodies to recover from all the late nights. I know we have been told all our lives to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night, but I never realized how effective this fact would be on our bodies. Getting plenty of sleep will not only help us recharge our bodies, but it also has a positive impact on our mental health. Also, nothing beats sleeping in your own bed while home for Thanksgiving.
Do what makes you happy
Finally, while you are home for Thanksgiving break, you should do whatever will make you happy and help relieve any stress that you have been having. Because we have been so focused with school and completing assignments, we do not always have time for activities that we like. Now is the perfect opportunity to catch up on any shows, read a good book, or simply listen to Taylor Swift’s album to relax. Having you-time can greatly increase your serotonin and help recharge your body and mind.
I hope everyone has a safe, healthy Thanksgiving break; and hopefully you will recharge your bodies and minds for the last few weeks of classes and finals!