Burnout

Pulse Perspective by Aiden Dosher

Burnout is a horrible, horrible thing. I myself have felt it, many times, mostly toward the end of a quarter, as I've put in hard effort for months by then, and need a break. So, in order to maybe help others who, like me, are stressed and weary after a long quarter, here's what I do to combat burnout!

First, novel experiences. For me, at least, a big part of burnout is the continuous cycle of same ol' same ol' that gets to me. So, a good way to combat that is to do something novel. One good thing is to go out and enjoy nature- take a stroll through a local park, just get out there and enjoy the fresh air!

Now, for this, I prefer Ellensburg's Rotary Park- it has a massive amount of space, with a decently long trail to walk. However, you could likely still benefit greatly from just taking a walk around the neighborhood, the campus, or wherever it is you live.

Now, the second- friends and close connections. Another big part of burnout can be the amount of stress it puts you through. A good way to relieve this stress is to spend time with people close to you! Even just talking with them and having them listen as you talk about what's on your mind can be really helpful! My best friends and I usually talk daily, and it really helps me keep moving.

Finally, a third thing that helps me combat burnout can actually be seen as the opposite of #2: taking time for myself. Not just spending time alone, but setting aside time specifically to spend by myself and to reconnect with me. I might do this by reading alone, writing a bit in a spare notebook, or even playing games by myself. Spending this time alone helps me to relax and pay attention to my personal needs that I might have neglected while I was pursuing a project, or researching an essay, etc.

Truth be told, these might not work for everyone- people are different, and unique, so it's never guaranteed that what will work for me would work for anybody else. However, I sincerely hope that these things I do to recenter myself will inspire you to take the time and help yourself out with that burnout.