We all know how the story goes. As Fall Quarter rolls around, classes begin to pick up the pace before you can even fully memorize your schedule. I mean, the screenshot of WebReg is still your lock screen by the time Week 3 is upon us. Midterm season seems to start earlier and earlier each year. Do your professors care that three weeks is not enough time to digest any of the information they’ve taught? No, no they don’t. But “it’s fine,” you think, “it’ll be fine!”

Spoiler alert: it’s not. Next thing you know, you’ve bombed your first midterms of the year. The horrible realization that you have got to catch up fast shocks you into focus. At this point, you start to wonder different things: Am I stupid? Is it time to switch majors? Should I drop this class, or should I just drop out? 

I know your issue. Don’t worry — you’re not stupid. Well, most of you aren’t, anyway. You’re just burnt out.

Burning out is a natural phenomena that has been happening to students all over the world for centuries. Dr. Robert Oppenheimer got so burnt out after developing the atomic bomb that he developed morals! But even if you’re working on literal rocket science, there are ways to overcome burning out. For a UC San Diego student, that might seem unrealistic, but I assure you in this article I will do my best to provide you with all the right tips and tricks on how to avoid early burn out.

1. Reconnect with your goals. You might be asking, “What if I don’t have goals? How can I establish them?” Goals can be small, tiny achievements you wish to make throughout the quarter. Something as simple as waking up for your 8 a.m. class can be a goal! Or making sure you go to discussion, for those of you STEM students who still have them. Goals can even be changing out of your pajamas for the day. Regardless of what goals you set, it can be easy to forget them quickly into the quarter. Reconnecting with them and re-reminding yourself of what you want to accomplish is an easy way to refocus.
2. Make time for yourself. With everything going on around you, it can be easy to forget to take care of yourself. That can look like doing a hobby of yours or spending time with friends. School is overwhelming at times! Take a moment to breathe and step away from it before you can get too caught up in trying to be the best. You can be the best tomorrow; today, you can watch “Gilmore Girls.” 
3. Try to find study buddies! I get that it can be distracting to do work with others at times, but this is a great way to remind yourself, you’re not alone! You definitely aren’t the only one who is struggling with the course work. Taking classes with friends or making friends in your classes can help with imposter syndrome. Everyone else is just as burnt out as you are!
4. Have a lighter workload in the fall. You might be tempted to take on a lot your first quarter (especially you first-years), but spreading yourself too thin early on in the year can just result in burning out at an even faster rate than usual. Be realistic with what you can handle; be considerate of your own boundaries and personal needs. And remember: taking three classes isn’t a bad idea if things start to get tough!
5. Make the process enjoyable! Get yourself a little sweet treat after class. You deserve it! Make your notes cute and pretty to look at. Make insanely niche music playlists about your exact feelings at a very specific time of day that no one will understand but you! Give yourself a piece of candy every time you finish a reading. Whatever it may be, try to give yourself a little enjoyment throughout the day. 

The point is, burning out happens to everyone. It’s basically inevitable, especially at a university like UCSD where competition between students leads to tension and imposter syndrome. But it’s not the end of the world. Instead of letting it completely derail you, try to prepare yourself as best as you can! Listen to the wise words of this article. Hope and pray that my genius rubs off on you. And, most of all, don’t fail your midterms.