Burnout?

Burnout is real, at-least for me and a lot of people I know personally and professionally. There will be times when you have no motivation to focus. Over the years, I have developed certain habits to push myself to be productive when required. I’m sure most of you might have come across these habits already. However, I feel there’s a need to spread the word as someone who never knew these might benefit.

1. 2-minute rule: Give yourself 2 minutes to work on any task. If you enjoy it, go ahead and keep working on the task. If you don’t, stop and take a break. Starting a task is the biggest roadblock for me. This habit helps in giving me a push to at-least get started.

2. Pomodoro Timers: Set a timer for 20/25 minutes. Focus on only one task. Take a break for 5 mins and resume again. Working on a task for too long might bore you or drain you out. Taking small breaks in between helps you in relaxing your mind. There are tons of pomodoro timer apps available online. My personal favorites are Forest and Focus Keeper.

3. Scheduling: Planning your day is extremely important, no matter if you’re a student or a working professional. Well, this seems easy but to stay on top of your calendar isn’t as simple as it sounds. Spend 15 minutes every night to plan your next day.

4. 6-day work week: This is specifically for students. Working professionals work 4/5 days a week and have the luxury to take a break every week. But, students often spend 7 days a week working on assignments, conducting research and attending classes & group meetings. Spending one day every week doing what you love, be it watching netflix, playing sport, hanging out with friends etc can drastically improve your mental health and energy to get going.

5. Move & Stretch your body at-least 4 days a week: Okay, I get it. It’s not as easy as it sounds. But, stretching your body doesn’t mean intense workout or running 10 miles. Take a walk in your community or do basic stretching in your room. This helped me in keeping both my body and mind fit.