How to avoid burnout when studying 

If you’re studying, raising a family, working full-time or part-time, or even just trying to manage one of these things (let alone all of them), you’re going to find yourself at risk of burnout at some point. Balancing responsibilities can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to do your best in every area of your life. 

At h&h Accredited Training, that’s the last thing we want for you. So, aside from being here to support you — seriously: call, email or drop into the office whenever you need support or a friendly chat — we have compiled a list of our top tips to help you remain calm, balanced and avoid burnout. Your well-being matters just as much as your academic success. 

How can you tell if you are burning out? 

The signs can be subtle — or they can feel impossible to ignore. Here are a few signals you might want to watch out for: 

• Have you found yourself becoming cynical, resentful, or overly critical of friends and family members? 

• Do you struggle to stay motivated with daily tasks, whether they’re study, work or family-related? 

• Do you find it hard to make time for yourself? 

• Do you feel fatigued or uninterested in day-to-day activities? 

• Do you find it difficult to concentrate? 

• Do you feel disillusioned or unsatisfied? 

• Are you relying on “comfort” food or alcohol to feel better? 

• Are you having trouble sleeping? 

All of these can be signs that you need to take a step back, concentrate on yourself, and restore your energy. You don’t need to experience all of these symptoms to be feeling burnt out — even one or two are worth paying attention to. If you notice any of them, take action early to prevent burnout from escalating. 

Work out the why 

If you’re feeling resentful towards a fellow student or co-worker, or cynical about a task your boss or trainer has given you, ask yourself why. Is it really about the other person — or are you simply exhausted? Sometimes burnout disguises itself as frustration. Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep. Perhaps you worked all day, studied in the afternoon and then spent the evening helping your kids with homework — leaving no time for YOU. That’s a big indicator that you need to schedule in some “you time.” It could be a mental health day, a trip to the beach, a bush walk, or even just one quiet hour with your favourite book. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish — it’s necessary. 

Work on your eight hours 

Research tells us that eight hours of quality sleep each night is ideal for optimal performance. Sometimes this isn’t always realistic, we know, but try to make the sleep you do get as restful as possible.  

Keep all devices out of your room, don’t study or work in bed, and keep your bedroom just for sleeping. Try to go to bed before 10 pm when possible, and make sure your bedroom gets good fresh airflow. Small changes to your sleep routine can make a big difference to your mood and focus. 

Enjoy exercise 

“Enjoy” exercise? That’s an oxymoron, isn’t it? But as your fitness improves, you’ll notice the endorphins released during movement — especially cardio — can lift your mood and improve mental clarity. 

Try running, brisk walking, cycling or swimming. Or for great company and motivation, join a local gym. On that note, give yoga a try — aside from stretching out muscles that may be stiff from long hours at your computer or books, it offers powerful mental clarity and relaxation. Even 20–30 minutes of movement a day can significantly reduce stress levels. 

Stop worrying about running out of time 

Do you ever feel like you have so much to do and not enough time to do it? You’re not alone — most people feel this way at some stage.  

Try to push those thoughts and feelings aside and tackle each task one by one until you get through it all. A tip from super athlete and wellness activist, Turia Pitt, is to do the hardest thing on your to-do list each day. Once that’s done, everything else will feel more manageable. 

If you leave the hardest task until the end of the day, you may spend hours worrying about it and creating unnecessary stress that overwhelms you. Progress, not perfection, is what truly moves you forward. 

Always ask for help 

You don’t have to go it alone! At h&h Accredited Training, we are here to help and support you throughout your studies. Feel free to ask us anything, share concerns, and we will assist you.  

Reach out to us via email at [email protected], through our social media channels on Facebook or Instagram, or by calling (02) 9682 0100.