#digital journal

Finals week just passed and i felt so out of my body, nauseous and weak. Clearly, i didn't take care of myself and was about to burnout.

So, here are 5 tips to not get burntout, from a student that stays consistent in her academic progress while taking care of herself:

Deal with your hair:

Seriously, this step is way too overlooked but please if your hair is tangled, detangle it. If it's dirty, wash it. To my curly hair girlies, i understand the struggle that styling your hair can be, so even if it's a bit unhygienic, just brush your hair and braid it, or put it in a slick back bun until you have the energy and time to wash it and style it. But really, take a warm shower if you can!

If necessary, take ONE day off:

Listen, last year i was the person that always skipped school at every minor inconvinience. That's not me anymore. So if you know you're at the brink of a burn-out, take one day off, just one. And don't feel guilty if you know you need it. However, there are a few rules to follow: as soon as you wake up (after getting at least 8 hours of sleep) text a classmate of yours or email a teacher asking today's lessons and catch up as soon as you get them. Don't put it off for later, you have the time. Also, no doomscrolling or intense sudying. That day is only about you resting.

Drink a hot cup of tea/water:

The perfect tea to drink if you feel unwell and exhausted is ginger tea since it can reduce nausea and bloating. Personally, a ginger-and-pear tea always makes me feel lighter. If you don't like tea, you can drink a warm cup of water!

Put all the mess that's on your mind on paper:

Exactly. Journaling. Just take a blank sheet of paper and face the buzz in your head and question yourself. Are you afraid a professor is going to be disappointed in you? They aren't the ones deciding your worth. Honestly, they don't even care that much about you either. Are you deceived after getting bad grades? That's okay, we expect high rewards in exchange for high effort. But in reality, the thing is that we might get a direct reward like a good grade, but we get an even bigger indirect reward: discipline and the knowledge of what we're supposedly doing wrong while studying. If you failed, you know why now. Eventually, you'll find your own answers on the same sheet of paper you wrote your worries on. I find that crying while writing makes me lighter. Let it all out, really.

Declutter your room.

Clothes don't weigh a ton, picking them up won't break your back, trust me... Put on a 15 minute timer (or 5 songs) and tidy your room. Then put on one of your favorite songs and clean your deskspace. That's it. It'll feel like a breath of fresh air. Then again, put on a slow song you like, maybe jazz, open the window and look out. The scenery is not important here, knowing that there's more to life than school and the four wall you are in is.

Take care, lilyborngood <3