5 Tips to Overcoming Burnout as a College Student

health care degree, concorde career college, stress

Students seeking a health care degree from Concorde Career College know that accelerated learning means that they'll be in their desired fields caring for people's needs and helping nurture wellness quicker than traditional programs.

As with any stage in life, stress is seemingly inevitable - especially as a college student.

A little stress can be a good thing. But what happens when beneficial stress quickly turns into unhealthy amounts of anxiety? The result is burnout.

Recognizing Student Burnout

Burnout is more than just a bad day or feeling stressed out during finals. Everyone experiences those occasional times when simply facing the day seems like performing a heroic task. Fortunately for most people, those times are few and far between, but burnout is relentless.

"Burnout is emotional, physical and mental exhaustion that is caused by ongoing stress," said Rhonda Gillylan, Student Services Advisor at Concorde Tampa. "A symptom of burnout is feeling overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. Stress if left unchecked can cause students to lose interest in their educational and career goals or lead to health problems."

Preventing Burnout During your Health Care Degree

The best way to cope with burnout is to prevent it, if possible. Whether studying for a health care degree or any type of educational certificate, self-care is the most important step in staying balanced and preventing that feeling of emotional or physical exhaustion.

  1. Making time in the morning for an inspirational activity such as journaling, meditating or reading something that's "just for fun" is a great way to start the day.
  1. Gillylan believes, "One of the best ways to avoid burnout is to think proactively and come up with a plan of action beforehand for all the 'what ifs' that can happen while in school, such as what if my car breaks down, how will I get to and from school? What if my babysitter is unable watch my child? What if my clinical or externship hours conflict with my work schedule? Having to deal with situations reactively rather than proactively can lead to stress and feeling overwhelmed."
  1. Eating a healthy diet and maintaining good exercise and sleep habit is an important part of self-care. Not sure where to start? We have a few ideas in this recently published blog!
  1. Believe it or not, taking a break from technology helps to recharge our internal batteries and provides that sense of being "unplugged" from all responsibilities. Choose a time each day to disconnect from laptops, phones and television.
  1. Find and rely on a solid support system. You don't have to navigate the challenges of earning a health care degree alone. Whether it's your family, friends, classmates or folks on campus, being able to vent and to celebrate the wins along the way is one of the many ways you can prevent burnout.

Staying Motivated

Students already experiencing a state of burnout might need help overcoming their mental and physical exhaustion. Learning how to become and stay motivated again is easier once you understand the causes and solutions.

"A student can seek the help of their Student Affairs Department or anyone from the Concorde team to provide encouragement and support," said Gillylan, "As Student Services Advisor, I enjoy helping students dealing with life issues by providing information on where to get help within the surrounding community."

Along with good self-care habits, emotional support, remembering what motivated you to seek a health care degree in the first place and a solid plan of action, you can make your dreams a reality!

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Lucy Vang
Medical Assistant Graduate

“Concorde for me was life-changing.”

Becky of Kansas City, MO via ConsumerAffairs.com