Study burnout

[Gooblah]

Only happened large-scale this year, for the AP Chem test.

It worked though, I think I did pretty well.

 

[aelf]

I find the most difficult thing about school is schedule contrasts. There is a very intense period at the end of every month, regardless of how well you spread your work out. Then a bit of a lull. Eventually it culminates in the final exam period and afterwords the crash of having a few weeks off with little to do.

There's also a difference in that you are learning vs working. It presents an entirely different challenge. I stopped being in school for about 3 years before getting back into it, so I could feel the difference.

So you know that much of what you're studying is either worthless or downright wrong? Of course you're frustrated!

It doesn't work that way. I might, for example, disagree with a particular thinker, but I'm still better served studying what he says. That would also put me in a better position to argue against the view that I disagree with.

I don't see why anyone would be in a hurry to go through university this year anyway. Anyone finishing this year, or the next, or probably even 2011, has a good chance of being screwed. Take your time.

I'm not in a hurry. It just takes 3 years.

 

[aelf]

I just got back some of my results for the essays that I did. I didn't get as many marks as I thought I could have.

This sure is a great motivation... In fact, this probably means I won't be able to get a very good degree, since they were supposed to be among my best chances at scoring high marks.

 

[mrt144]

Have you ever felt that after a long sustained effort in studies, you just cannot continue with such efforts anymore? Have you ever felt that your mind becomes dull, you begin to forget stuff that you've learned before, your posting on CFC becomes uninspired, and you wonder why you don't quite hit the right notes anymore? Have you ever felt that you have become terribly unproductive and have diminished interest in intellectual pursuits and just want a good break?

If you do, you are probably experiencing a study burnout. The symptoms include:



I think I'm there right now, and it's terribly annoying. I have another major exam to go, one that I don't particularly like, and a few minor ones that, although quite inconsequential, would be nice to not do too badly in. But I haven't had a good break at all and won't be getting one soon.

Well, the story is, due to prevailing circumstances, I had effectively 5 deadlines to meet at the beginning of this term. All the essay-based modules that I did from autumn to spring had their assessed essays due on the same day and I had an exam for intermediate microeconomics, which I was particularly apprehensive about as it was probably my weakest subject. I tried to plan it such that I had enough time to do them, and with the exception of the last essay, I had quite enough. Unfortunately, that meant doing everything in succession with no breaks in between, even though that was during my term vacation. Well, there was some economies of scale involved in this, as I was constantly in 'operational readiness'.

So that took up the entire 5 weeks of my spring break plus one week. I went on holiday for about 5 days at the beginning of break, but I practically finished reading a philosophy book that I needed to refer to heavily for one my essays while I was away, so it was not an unproductive time.

A few weeks into it, my productivity had declined noticeably, and thus the remaining time was getting tighter. It was such that I ended up with about a day or two short for my last essay, which was hence done sub-optimally. At the end of the pretty grueling 6 weeks or so, I gave myself a few days' break, though I really had more work to do. Two days later, though, I was already applying for summer internships, and after that I began studying again, now for the advanced macroeconomics exam that will be in the middle of the second half of term, on top of doing my regular seminar work.

Now here I am, having essentially studied for more than 2 months straight with only a few days of real holiday, and I'm feeling like crap. I take hours just to read a few pages of my macroeconomic textbook. Previously, I played some games when I felt like this to relax myself, but my gaming time got longer and longer. Since a few days ago, I've not touched games at all to stop the downward spiral, but I still don't get any more work done.

I like the politics module that I'm doing this term, but I've practically given up on reading the text in preparation for tomorrow's seminar. Instead, I'm just reading a related comic-like presentation of the content that my tutor sent and obsessing over my laptop's security since my email account apparently got hacked for a while or something. Fortunately, the module is on Marx, and I already know quite a bit so it won't be too bad.

Anyway, pardon the long rant-like narration. Has anyone experienced or is anyone experiencing something similar? Any tips on what to do to overcome the lethargy? And to get rid of the buzzing mind-numbing stress that makes relaxation time unrefreshing?

Exercise routinely and take amphetamines occasionally.

 

[Neomega]

Recently I took up FFH again, which has killed my time, but this quarter I have read an extra 5 books beyond required reading, yet my papers still feel sub-par to me.

But summer break is right around the corner. This is hell week. I have 3 finals, and one 12 page paper left to do. And of course history professors always make the topics pretty boring stuff.

Luckily, Fall quarter is only going to have one 300 level, and 2 200 levels, so I should be able to handle it.

Oh yeah, running, I believe, helps. It builds will power.

I am one who speaks in class (of course... I'm an opinionated dude.. ), and generally, I try to find as much interest as possible in the subjects presented. A history degree is like story time to me, and I love going to the lectures.

 

[Kozmos]

Fine mechanics drain the mind.....you learn about the most simple things in overwhelming detail. It just kills my desire to live to learn for 5 hours to get a D or C.