How To Overcome Burnout As A College Student (10 Ways To Recharge)

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If you’re a college student who’s been feeling burnt out recently, just know that we’ve all been there.

Keeping up with assignments, work, family priorities, and a social life - not to mention trying to fit in downtime on top of everything else can seem both impossible and exhausting.

This is something I personally struggle with regularly as a student. Over the years, I’ve learned the warning signs of experiencing burnout.

I’ve taken note of the things that truly make me feel recharged and ready to get back on my grind once I’ve done them - well rested and with a healthy mindset.

So today, I’m sharing my top ten ways to overcome academic burnout in college in the hope that they help you too.

How To Beat Academic Burnout (And Avoid It In The First Place)

#1: Have A “No School” Day

Personally, I think the best way to recharge as a college student is to take a break from anything college-related all together.

I know this isn’t always possible due to deadlines and other commitments, but if you can squeeze in some time to completely disconnect from schoolwork, it really does help a lot.

It doesn’t even have to be a full day, it can be just a few hours if that’s all you have time for.

It can also be longer than a day if that works for you! Take however long you feel you need to recharge while also taking into account any deadlines or time-based commitments you have coming up.

As for what to spend that “no school” time doing? Literally whatever you want - as long as it’s not studying or worrying about your academic performance!

Keep reading for some ideas on what to do to recharge.

#2: Spend Time With Family And Friends

Whether it’s in person or virtually, spending time with your favorite people is truly one of the best ways to get your mind off of school and avoid feeling isolated.

Plus, it’s a good way to remind yourself that you’ve got people in your life who love you and who you can lean on when you need to!

Remembering this helps me if I’m feeling really burnt out or having a rough day mentally.

So, here’s your sign to be grateful for the people in your life - go hang out with them, give them a call, shoot them a text.

Just remember that you’re loved, you’re not alone, and experiencing burnout is temporary.

#3: Have A Solo Day

While I think spending time with loved ones is something everyone can benefit from, sometimes what we really need is some alone time - especially if you’re an introvert like me.

Maybe you feel overwhelmed with a hectic schedule and you’re always on the go - classes, study sessions, extracurricular activities, running errands, you name it.

It can all get pretty draining - and time management skills are hard to master! Even if you’ve got a pretty chill schedule, it’s totally okay to take time for yourself sometimes.

That time can look like whatever you want! Some ideas to get you thinking:

Binge watch a show, cook, self care, engage in your favorite hobbies, or even take yourself on a “date” somewhere.

All that matters is you’re doing something that will allow your mind to disconnect from school and recharge so you’re ready to go back even stronger.

For some more inspo on this, watch my solo date vlog on YouTube!

#4: Spruce Up Your Physical Surroundings

Something I’ve noticed during my time as a college student is that my physical surroundings can have a significant effect on my mental health.

I know, I know, we’ve all heard “clean room, clean mind” before, but for me this absolutely holds true.

But it’s more than just having a clean space - it’s about creating a space that energizes you, makes you feel safe, and one that you love spending time in.

One of the best ways to do that? Decorate! Think about the vibe or style you want to emulate. Is it cozy, boho, relaxing, minimal, girly, etc.?

Then, find a bunch of decor items that appeal to you and spread them throughout your space!

Whether it’s some motivational wall art prints, greenery, a retro alarm clock, a fluffy rug, a disco ball, books, or something else, have some fun shopping and giving your space a little makeover.

Your space will be a more enjoyable place for your body and mind to rest in and it’ll also motivate you to study more, too!

You can read more on how your physical surroundings impact your mental health here.

#5: Have A Self Care Session

This is another favorite method of mine when it comes to overcoming academic burnout as a college student.

Self care looks different for everyone - so do what feels good for your emotional and physical health!

Personally, I like making a whole day of self care, or at least a couple of hours.

I’ll take an “everything” shower, self tan, do some skincare, clean my apartment, do my nails, and watch YouTube or a show while I do it.

It’s sooo relaxing for me, and I feel amazing after a complete reset like that. Some more self care ideas for you:

Journaling (the Five Minute Journal is a great starter journal!), coloring, napping, eating a healthy meal, working out, doing an apartment/dorm clean out, or meditating). Self care can be literally anything you want it to be!

#6: Take A Nap

If you’re a busy college student, there’s a decent chance you’re also sleep deprived.

And one of the most iconic and effective ways to recharge is - of course - to sleep! So if you can, try to fit a nap into your day here and there.

Something with naps that I’ve noticed in my own personal experience (but something that’s also backed by science) is that shorter naps actually tend to be a more effective way to recharge than longer naps.

I learned about this in my introductory psychology class. Basically the reason for this is that during short naps, your brain hasn’t had enough time to reach the “deep sleep” stage.

When you wake up while in this “deep sleep” stage, you’ll likely still feel pretty tired.

But if you haven’t been sleeping super long and you wake up when your brain is in a “light sleep” stage, you’ll feel more awake and refreshed.

Okay, I’m not an expert, just a tired college student, so if you want to learn more about this topic and how you can use sleep to your advantage in school - I’d recommend checking out this article here.

#7: Get Some Fresh Air

Here’s your friendly reminder to go outside today.

As students, I feel like it’s easy to get stuck inside most of the time, whether you’re in class, studying, or taking care of other responsibilities.

So if weather permitting, take a little walk, sit outside for awhile, or go grab a coffee and treat yourself.

Heck, you can even just stand outside for like thirty seconds - taking a few breaths while enjoying some fresh air is such a good way to reset and clear your mind, even if it’s for less than a minute.

But if you can, try to get outside for even longer than that!

#8: Spend Time With Animals

This is probably my favorite way to deal with academic burnout on this whole list - and it’s another method backed by science, too!

Go and spend some quality time with your pet, or even with someone else’s pet if you don’t have one.

You can also volunteer in an animal shelter (giving back and helping others is another great way to recharge), or look up opportunities to interact with therapy animals in your area.

Speaking of therapy animals, my college actually brings in a group of emotional support dogs a few times every semester for students to pet and hang out with.

If your school does something like this, definitely take advantage of it because it’s truly one of the best ways to improve your mental health, at least for me!

If you’d like to learn more about the physical and mental health benefits that come from interacting with animals, this article by the American Psychiatric Association is a great place to start.

#9: Get Some Movement In

Movement is something that brings me a lot of mental clarity. Personally, my favorite forms of movement are yoga, calisthenics, and gymnastics!

Sometimes, I have so many things on my mind (assignments, deadlines, projects, work, events, appointments, other random stuff) that it’s hard to quiet it.

When I move, it gets me to completely physically and mentally focus on what I’m doing. I’m only focusing on my body and on my breathing.

Move in whatever way feels best for you:

Stretching, skate boarding, soccer, weightlifting, biking, softball, canoeing, dancing, ice skating, roller blading, basketball, cardio, pilates, swimming - the options are truly endless!

#10: School-Organized Activities

To end off, this is a small reminder that your college might actually organize some really great activities to help with students’ mental health.

I mentioned that mine brings in therapy dogs. They also host things like adult coloring sessions, goat yoga, crafting classes, and other things of that nature!

So go and check your school’s event calendar - you might find something on there that you really enjoy and brings you a lot of peace.

Outro & Closing Thoughts

So, those are my top ten ways to recharge and overcome academic burnout as a college student.

Taking the time to care for your mental health is so so so important, and I truly hope this post inspired you with some actionable steps to do just that.

Remember that it’s okay to take a break sometimes. It’ll help you recharge so that afterwards, you can tackle your schoolwork or whatever you need to with a fresh mindset.

Wishing you all the best, you got this love! -Nikki Lo

For another post like this one, read this next: 5 Things Every College Student Should Do Before A New Semester

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10 Ways To Beat Academic Burnout In College! (& Avoid It)