Just wondering how to overcome being “burned out.” My case is of the academic variety (way past senioritis), if that makes a difference. I need ideas besides just taking a break–I’ve had a break for the past 3 months, and I’m still unable to make myself do anything. Thanks in advance.
Try getting interested in something completely different on the side. Take up a hobby that interests you, but you’ve never pursued before. Paint or take pictures. Just try to look at the world through different eyes. It may change the way you look at your studies. Just a thought.
Set a new goal…like looking for a job, and start working toward it.
Are you trying to get back into school? I took a break and when I got back I ended up dropping all but one class. I recommend that you just start with one acedemic class and maybe a few PE classes or something less stressful that you won’t have to write papers or anything for. Then you could slowly take on more classes to get back in the game.
I’m assuming that you were in college as you have been on a 3-month break. Were you working? My biggest incentive for college was the years I had working in a crappy, dead-end job with a bunch of burnouts with no ambition. Nothing like a cold dose of reality to light the academic fires.
as a long time procrastinator, I can be of some expert help here.
SHUT UP AND DO YOUR WORK!
NO,
NO!
no arguments,
Just do it.
If you wait for the motivation to come, it never will.
If you do the work without being motivated, the work gets done, and you don’t need the motivation.
Try to look at your courseload like a job. Get up at a predetermined time, work steadily, and only put in overtime when absolutely necessary. The thing I find most out-burning about college is the constant nagging feeling that “I should be studying right now…” If you’re able to compartmentalize your time, then do something enjoyable without that nagging guilt, things start to look better.
Also, try to keep in mind why you’re doing what you’re doing in the first place. Write it down if necessary. After a year of grad school, I hated everything I was doing, and felt like I was going east when my compass said west. I was totally frustrated and couldn’t remember WTF I came to grad school in the first place. I found an old journal entry stating my career goals. I re-wrote that statement and pinned it up next to my computer so I wouldn’t forget what I was trying to do again.