It’s around this time of the year that students can feel so overwhelmed with stress that it can lead to fatigue and academic burnout. At this point, spring break is dearly missed, winter break is a distant memory, and summer break is on the horizon. Due to this, academic burnout can feel more like an inevitability.
A common theme with students is that they exercise to clear their minds and deal with burnout. Working out can help as not only a physical reset, but a mental and emotional one. For students looking to work out, Rowan University has two main exercise centers, the Rec Center and Rowan Fitness Center.
Alexander Burkhart is a freshman accounting major who exercises to clear his mind. He finds his social life is the first sacrifice in dealing with being overwhelmed and burnout.
“I guess my relationships with other people. Just my friends are the first to go. I just try and exercise to clear my mind [when it comes to dealing with burnout],” said Burkhart.
Gianna Cantz is a freshman elementary education major who tends to deal with burnout with rest and sleep. But Cantz admits this can lead her to avoid everything when burnt out.
“I find my social life tends to go first. I don’t really deal with burnout. I just like to try and get by. If I’m overwhelmed, I may just sleep. Just, like, avoiding everything,” said Cantz.
Joeng So Still is a junior mechanical engineering major who also uses exercise to provide a clearer mind during exam season.
“The first thing I neglect is sleep, and social life second to sleep. I just try and implement mindfulness into my daily life. What I like about Rowan is that there are different mindfulness events, like there’s those sort of yoga every Thursday,” said So Still. “I think maintaining those are very helpful, I go sometimes. I guess taking quiet moments to just sit still and breathe for a moment.”
So Still is referencing one of Rowan Recreation’s many group fitness classes, specifically Restorative Yoga on Thursday nights, 7-8 pm. Restorative yoga focuses on stillness and rest and is one of 14 classes the Rec Center offers. Registration is necessary for any Rowan Rec group fitness class. Rowan University also has a plethora of pop-up events for both mindfulness and exercise, which are usually posted on Proflink or advertised around campus.
It’s important to take time for yourself and recharge. Working out, hanging out with friends, and just generally taking a break can help when burnout is combated.
Once motivation is back, making a to-do list to cross off a task or two is incredibly helpful in helping to fight academic burnout. Though burnout and stress are normal, it’s important to find the proper ways to deal with them.
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