Is it OK to study when tired?
Feeling tired doesn't have to signal the end of productivity. You can still study when you're tired and do great work.
So if you're unmotivated, you might just be overwhelmed. You could be feeling the effects of difficulties in your family or the world at large. Maybe you're having a hard time focusing or feel like your goals are too far away.
What Is Academic Burnout? Academic burnout can be defined as a negative emotional, physical and mental reaction to prolonged study that results in exhaustion, frustration, lack of motivation and reduced ability in school.
Take a nap
A nap was found to improve memory scores on a test in one study, suggesting that a quick sleep could help to refresh your mind and consolidate all that learning. Keep it short though; any more than 20-30 minutes and you could find it difficult to fall asleep later on.
Most people need at least seven to eight hours of sleep at night for the body and brain to function normally. So, if you stay up all night, missing out on the recommended amount of sleep, your brain will be equally as weary -- rendering a sharp decrease in performance for specific learning and memory tasks.
Scores of studies conclude that students really do better when they sleep. Sleeping poorly (or not at all) leads to worse test results and poorer ability to learn new things. In fact, an all nighter hurts your ability to think, reason, and understand to the same degree as if you were taking your test drunk.
Complete ONE Small Task to Spark Motivation
Starting with a small task can help get you in the mindset to study. Sometimes you just need to complete one task to build study momentum. Make a list of small, easy task prompts you can refer back to every time you need to study but don't feel like it.
- Acknowledge your progress and accomplishments. A common feeling that coincides with burnout is that no matter what, your work seems endless. ...
- Practice self-care and take a break. ...
- Start a gratitude journal. ...
- Talk to friends and family.
Sometimes the reason for not feeling like studying is the perceived difficulty. If the subject is too difficult, students try to avoid studying. Get friends to study with you in such cases. Group study work well for some students.
A systematic review of 2021 on the prevalence of burnout syndrome in university students showed estimates of 55.4% for emotional exhaustion, 31.6% for cynicism and 30.9% for academic efficacy.
What are signs of academic burnout?
Student burnout is a type of burnout that comes from extended academic stress. The main symptoms of student burnout include a lack of motivation and interest, impaired ability to focus, physical health issues, lack of creativity, and decreased academic performance.
A long, hard day of thinking can sometimes feel as exhausting as a day of manual labour, and experts think they know why. A new study has found that people may feel tired after intense mental work because it causes potentially toxic by-products to build up in the prefrontal cortex part of the brain.
Sleeping between 90 and 110 minutes gives your body time to complete one full sleep cycle and can minimize grogginess when you wake. But any sleep is better than not at all — even if it's a 20-minute nap.
Turn up the lights. Bright white light stimulates your body to stay awake. Making sure there is enough bright light in the place you chose to study all night can keep you from getting drowsy and may help you concentrate better on the material you need to cover. Find a place with a bright white light source.
Napping Before an Exam Could Be Even Better Than Last-Minute Cramming. If you've got an important exam coming up, it might seem like a bad idea to waste your time snoozing, but a new study suggests that a nap could be even better for your memory than extra revision.
It impairs your cognitive function
Sleep deprivation impacts your cognitive function by affecting your memory, ability to concentrate and your problem-solving skills. Put simply, you're not at your best after staying up all night, which means it's the worst time to take a test.
Is 3 hours enough? This will depend largely on how your body responds to resting this way. Some people are able to function on only 3 hours very well and actually perform better after sleeping in bursts. Though many experts do still recommend a minimum of 6 hours a night, with 8 being preferable.
Researchers working on the UK/Chinese study found seven hours of sleep was associated with a longer attention span, better memory and the ability to learn new things.
How Long Does Burnout Last? It takes an average time of three months to a year to recover from burnout. How long your burnout lasts will depend on your level of emotional exhaustion and physical fatigue, as well as if you experience any relapses or periods of stagnant recovery.
- Learn to Say No. College students — and early career professionals — often feel intense pressure to hustle and get ahead. ...
- Focus on Time Management. ...
- Prioritize Sleep and Exercise. ...
- Set Reasonable Goals. ...
- Make Time For Fun. ...
- Ask for Help.
How do you get over student burnout?
- Stay On a Schedule. Keep life organized with a planner. ...
- Focus On Physical Health. Working on your physical health can help you feel better mentally. ...
- Create Goals and Rewards. ...
- Set Up a Support System.