Finding Rhythm in a New School Year

 There’s something about the first few weeks of school that feels like standing on a bridge. You’re not quite on one side or another. The gentleness of summer lingers in the air, yet the sharp edges of school warp around the remnants of the warmth. It’s so easy to get caught up in the rush of what’s ahead, but I also think there’s a kind of quiet beauty in beginning again. It’s a reminder that we get to restart and reshape ourselves, maybe even surprise ourselves in the process. However, as beautiful as new beginnings may feel, I know how quickly the shine can fade when the workload piles up. From AP work to extracurriculars to jobs, it often feels as though there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. Throughout my time as a student, I’ve learned the importance of striking a balance between discipline, motivation, and self-care.

        I’m someone who definitely struggles with balance – I either get surges of motivation or procrastinate until the very last second. As the new school year begins, I’m doing my best to create that essential balance. I have also previously written about academic burnout – something most of us have felt at one point or another – so if you’re curious about that side of things, you can check it out in the archive. This time, I want to focus less on the burnout itself and more on the small ways I’ve learned to keep it from taking over, in hopes that you can find your own rhythm as well. 

“How Do I Prevent Burnout?” 

  Set boundaries - One of the most important ways to ensure burnout doesn’t catch up to you is to schedule clear starting and stopping times for studying. While I personally love my schedules encapsulating every waking second of my time, I fully understand that a lot of people tend to stray away from scheduling, as it just doesn’t work for them. However, by “scheduling” in this sense, it does not necessarily have to mean intricate plans (although it can). Setting aside a specific time to study, putting away all distractions, and then stopping as soon as you reach your endpoint is incredibly important as it gives your brain a sense of stability which, otherwise, is difficult to find.

Take full rest days - This point, while incredibly important, is something I find myself struggling with personally. Taking full rest days to reset and recharge your mind and body is very necessary to ensure quality work. I know the feeling of wanting to complete as much as you can, and I also understand the fears behind taking full days without doing any academic work. However, rest days don’t have to mean doomscrolling in bed. Productivity is always an option, but what’s important here is giving your mind and body a change once in a while. 

  Go outside - Going outside has to be one of the most vital ways to prevent burnout. The natural sunlight, change in scenery, and fresh air work wonders almost immediately. The next time you find yourself getting fed up with your work environment, try taking a step outside for a second. You’ll thank me later, I promise.

Stay organized – The more organized you are physically, the more organized you’ll feel mentally. A clean work environment also makes it a lot easier to return to work after taking a break. 

Check in with yourself - Perhaps the most important, this point is something I’m sure a lot of us struggle with. When it comes to pushing yourself, it sometimes becomes difficult to fully grasp how you feel. Taking a second to figure out how you feel mentally and acting accordingly is something that takes time and self-reflection, but the more you start understanding your own patterns, the easier it’ll be to stop the burnout before it takes over. 

“How Do I Stay Motivated?” 

Celebrate improvement, not just perfection - As a perfectionist, I find it really difficult to feel accomplished if everything isn’t exactly how I envisioned it to be. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, things will not go exactly how I planned them to. I’m learning, though, that celebrating the little things – finishing a difficult assignment, tackling a tough passage on the violin – can contribute to my own motivation as it gives me a reason to keep going. Only staying focused on what’s missing exponentially increases the chances of giving up, in contrast to focusing on both the ups and the downs. Rotate between subjects – Sometimes, I find myself confused between a lack of motivation and boredom. Sitting at my desk doing math problems for three hours feels like a lack of motivation, but a lot of the time, I realize I’m just sick of the work I’ve been attached to for so long. Switching to an easier assignment and getting that mental refresh is all I need, sometimes, to get myself back on track. 

Visualize your goals - Why do you do what you do? A lot of the time, a simple motivational reminder can do the trick in terms of bringing back the motivational spark you need. Most importantly: discipline > motivation - At the end of the day, there will be times when these tips just don’t work. Of course, there is a difference between burnout and a lack of motivation, but when it’s just the latter, it’s important to remember that discipline should always trump motivation. It’s much easier said than done, but just like everything else mentioned in this article, it’s a process. And trust me, once you get the hang of said process, things will feel a lot less daunting than they do now.