After a recent conversation with some friends at the Vine, it became apparent that something I had been feeling for awhile was more common than I had thought.
It's that feeling you have when you just don't care as much as you usually do about how classes go or what grades you'll end up getting.
It's that feeling you have when you know you should be studying for that test, but instead find yourself heading to IHOP at midnight (and who here hasn't done that?) or watching those addictive countdowns on VH1.
It's not that you've become a mediocre student or that you're now lazy — it's more of a feeling that something has changed.
Another student in one of my classes summed it up perfectly: I'll trade Cs for my degree.
The feeling is burnout, and it's quite common on college campuses.
Here are some time-tested remedies:
Take an hour off.
Try taking a break from homework for awhile and do something you actually enjoy. Go for a run. Better yet, sleep or read that book you've been wanting to for the past six months. Whatever you do, don't let your mind wander back to school.
This often helps when you're studying for a test. And by studying, I mean when you're rereading the same sentence in your textbook or checking Facebook every five minutes. You're only kidding yourself to think you'll actually get any work done because your mind has already decided it's not going to focus.
Take a short break instead. A lot of us might have done this in high school, but we can still do it in college.
Take some time off.
Sometimes a complete break from school is exactly what you need. Backpack through Europe, join the military, or find a job. Many successful people have taken time off from school and gone back later.
Think about living off campus.
Don't get me wrong, living on campus can be a huge advantage. There's no morning traffic to deal with, you're ten minutes away from your classes, the libraries are within walking distance, and you definitely meet the most people in the dorms.
But there are disadvantages. You never leave school. By living off campus, you are able to emotionally abandon the stress and hassle of class, and you're better focused when you finally do decide to study.
Student Health Resources.
Located on the third floor of the Student Services Building, the Counseling and Consultation department offers confidential psychological and psychiatric services.
There are counselors available to help students talk about stress and offer advice on how to cope.
If you're feeling burned out, the best thing you can do is to make some changes. It'll benefit your health, your grades might improve and you'll become happier.
You've worked hard to get where you are now and you wouldn't want your efforts to slip away.
And anyway, there are only 35 days until Reading Day – we're almost out.
Hilary Wade is a political science junior. She can be reached at:
