How to Avoid Burning Out

How to Avoid Burning Out

Whoever was first to say, “the struggle is real” was probably trying to write an amazing college essay in between assignments for multiple AP classes and learning lines for the fall drama while training for varsity soccer.

Senior year can feel overwhelming for students who are facing enormous pressure about their future while trying to finish their present commitments strongly. There is a lot to do!

But you don’t have to be swallowed up by the college process. Sure, there will be pressure-filled days and not all of them will be fun, but the journey as a whole does not have to be riddled with anxiety or push you to the brink. In fact, our goal for all our students is that they exit the application process more confident and better equipped to self-advocate and express their voices. If you are too stressed out, you’ll miss this wonderful growth opportunity.  

We’ve highlighted a few surefire ways 12th graders can navigate the months to come without burning out. Take a look and see which strategies make the most sense for you.

Use Your Calendar Wisely

There are hard deadlines attached to the college process. Unlike your English teacher who might understand and give you an extra week to finish that essay on Chaucer, there are no extensions coming from the admissions office.

Take comfort in knowing that there’s a limit to how long your schedule will be this hectic and try to embrace the journey for what it is. By working diligently, you can climb the mountain in front of you in manageable steps rather than having to make gravity-defying leaps.

Backwards Plan

There are many advantages to backwards planning. Start with the furthest application deadline and calculate how much time you have between then and now. From there you can assess how much work – how many separate essays, short answers, etc. – you actually have to complete in that period. Now you can begin to set informed daily or weekly goals.

Set Mini Deadlines

Break your assignments into smaller, manageable chunks then celebrate accomplishing those tasks. Meeting or exceeding your mini deadlines will also help you build momentum that propels you to the finish line. Steady progress will lead to steady success. Before you know it, you will have completed the majority of your main task without becoming overwhelmed by the scope of it.

Designate Days to Tasks

You will have other work to do outside of your college applications that needs your full attention. Your grades as well as the commitments you’ve made outside of the classroom still count senior year. Consider designating certain days to certain tasks; perhaps Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are when you work on college applications, but Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are reserved for schoolwork. Create a plan you can stick to that makes sense for your schedule, and you’ll position yourself better to get everything done without burning out.

Use Your Time Wisely

After you make your plan in your calendar, you have to execute it! This is where discipline really comes in; but by leaning into it you will build your resilience and focus and likely have time for other things you enjoy. Time is a finite resource. Use it wisely, especially when you’re up against the clock.

Can Something Less Important Wait?

If you’re feeling like there’s too much on your plate, there might be. Can you remove something – even just temporarily – to make room for a higher priority? Perhaps this is not the semester to join a new club or take on another leadership position. In all likelihood, you will only be going through this college process once. This isn’t a typical year for you. It’s OK if you have to triage something you enjoy so you can thrive at something you need.

Don’t Procrastinate!

Don’t put off what you can do today until the last minute! Not only will this jeopardize the quality of your work, it will add significant stress to the process. Even if you like the “rush” of beating the clock, create this feeling for yourself through your mini deadlines so you stay on track for the actual deadline.

Recharge Your Battery

To avoid burnout, you have to replenish your energy and focus. You can’t keep making withdrawals on your strength if you don’t also deposit into it. Though you will be busy, treat this as an activity worth scheduling. Make time to meditate, reflect, and pause from your busy schedule.

Take Downtime Seriously

The difference between downtime and wasted time is intention. Taking time to unplug from screens, engage in physical exercise, practice an instrument or sport, or even play a video game can help you focus and be more productive when you do return to work. Just make sure you don’t overextend your down time. And make sure that you are working hard when it’s worktime.

Don’t Work Alone

Even though it’s your process, you aren’t in it alone. There are people on your team ready to help you. Perhaps your parents can assist with some of the organization details you need. And working with an admissions expert can help keep you on track of everything. Share responsibility where you can and free yourself up to concentrate on your strengths. One day at a time, one task at a time, you will accomplish the goals on your agenda.

The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.

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