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Mental Health Corner: Tips to avoid burnout during summer

Mental Health

Southwest students, spring semester has finally come to an end.  And what a semester it has been! You all had to be flexible and adjust your schedules to a new way of life due to the Coronavirus pandemic. That was not an easy feat, but you did it. You overcame the obstacles that were in front of you, and you now deserve a much needed break.

For those of you who will continue on during the summer semester, do not let the stress and fatigue of classes allow you to slacken up on your coursework. You can finish summer semester strong!

Here are a few basic tips to help you stay the course:

  1. Make sure you are getting enough sleep. To be your best, you need rest. Ideally, you should be getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep nightly.
  2. Schedule your days. You do not need to schedule every hour of your day. Instead, write down what you would like to accomplish each day. This will help keep you stay on track and keep you from missing any assignments.
  3. Avoid procrastination. When you wait until the last minute to do an assignment or study for an exam, you are not going to do your best. Avoiding tasks that need to be done can have negative consequences.
  4. Exercise. I cannot stress this enough. Exercise is good for you. It will improve your physical health and add amazing benefits to your mental health.
  5. Prioritize. Write down everything you need to do then organize that list by what is most important or needs to be done first. This will help you manage your time and meet your deadlines.  
  6. Remember your goals. When life seems overwhelming, remind yourself of why you are in college right now.  Remember your ultimate goal and keep moving toward it.
  7. Reward yourself. Make time in your day to do what makes you happy. 
  8. Ask for help! If you need help with an assignment, ask your professors and advisors for help. Additionally, the office of Retention and Student Success offers several support services to help you succeed.

If you find that stress or anxiety is too much to handle, please contact our counseling and social services department.