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Student Stories

Student Stories

Blogs and vlogs from students of the University of Edinburgh

Burnout is real! Top tips for avoiding it in semester two

View above a table with a board game laid out.
Reading time: 3 minutes

By Rachel, from USA, studying History

Returning to class after the winter holidays isn’t always the most exciting prospect – especially when the sun is rising at 9am and setting at 4pm. It’s dark and cold and you were just at home, eating for free and petting your cat.

Don’t lose hope! As a second-semester graduate student, I feel I am the perfect person to help you stay motivated through the Big Dark.

Here are my top tips:

Eight hours of sleep (Yes, EVERY NIGHT)

This one, you’ve probably already heard. There’s no overstating the importance of good sleep. The Executive Editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch writes that not enough sleep can lead to higher risk of anxiety and depression.

In my experience, those go hand in hand with burnout. So, even if you’re going to bed at 2am and waking up at 10am, get off TikTok and try some calming tea!

The Student Counselling service have some self-help tips online if you are struggling with sleep.

View sleep self-help information

Eat a vegetable

Everyone always says, “eat healthy.” That’s not what I’m saying. I think that people underestimate how exhausting it can be to try and prepare a home-cooked, healthy, and filling meal. So, eat a vegetable.

While you’re eating your Tesco Ready Meal, ordering something from Deliveroo, or making your fourth pesto pasta of the week, add a vegetable. Even if it’s broccoli every time, because you don’t like or know how to cook anything else, it’ll make you feel a thousand times better.

Study someplace new

There’s about a thousand coffee shops in Edinburgh. Also, within walking distance of Main campus there’s the National Library of Scotland and the Edinburgh City Central Library. You’ve got work to do, but going to the same place every day can start feeling monotonous and make it hard to get out of bed. You’ve got work to do and can’t totally blow it off, but trying a new place is something outside of the norm to get excited about!

The University also offers a wide range of environments to study in. 

Explore study spaces near you 

Get out of town

That being said, all work, and no play makes for a dull life There are lots of great day trips from Edinburgh that are super affordable with a YoungScot or Rail card.

St Andrews Cathedral with a pink sunset in the sky.

Glasgow, St. Andrews, Stirling, Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Newcastle are all only an hour or two on the bus or train. Plus, using a YoungScot card (even if you’re not under 22), you can still get you into places like Stirling Castle for only £1.00! Shaking up your routine can make everything feel brand new, a great way to stave off burnout.

Read Georgia’s day trip ideas for you and your flatmates

Join a club

Winter can feel particularly lonely. It’s hard to make friends when the sun sets before you get out of your afternoon classes. Check out the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) website! They’ve got everything from the Aberdeen FC Supporters Club to the Yoga Society. (Almost A to Z!) It’s a great way to make friends. There’s a society meeting almost every day of the week, so even if you think you aren’t free, you ARE!

View EUSA’s society website

Read about the benefits of joining a student society blog

Call your Mom (or whoever you can talk to without judgement)

When the going gets tough, you don’t have to go it alone. Making new friends, going to new places, and trying new things can shake up a routine – but this is all easier said than done.

Relying on the people who care about you and love you unconditionally is just as important as anything else. If it gets hard to go to class, or even brush your teeth, an unjudging confidant is the best person to speak to.

If you feel like you can’t talk to anyone, reach out to the Student Counselling Service or you can make use of self-help resources on the University website.

Learn more about the Student Counselling Service

View self-help resources

Do what’s good for you!

Burnout is not a victimless crime. The victim is YOU! It’s also not a crime. In fact, dealing with burnout is part of the university experience. It’s normal and happens to more people than you might think.

That doesn’t mean you have to thug it out, though. If playing video games for 9 hours or calling your Mom five times a day make you feel better, then that’s what works. While the weather is cold and the days are dark, take care of yourself, whatever that means for you. And remember, at this time of year, each day is longer and brighter than the last.

Want to find out more?

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