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writing || how to avoid stress and burnout in university

IoanaOctober 7, 2018

I still have a ways to go before I find my studying groove in university. Not only is there an impossible workload and so many aspects of life to balance, but my definition of “caught up” doesn’t lend itself well to the work I’ve been seeing in the past month. I really value the education I’m getting and it really helps that I find the material is immensely interesting. But there are so many places where I might optimize how I read, take notes, and absorb information. I also ought to optimize WHICH information I absorb.

This comes to mind because in an ideal world, I wouldn’t be either studying, eating, sleeping and spending time with friends. I want to make more time to workout and practice yoga, read for pleasure and explore my university town. I’ve noticed that despite the constant motion that is my lifestyle at university, the short bits of time I make to do those things have been like a miraculous breath of fresh air. They are so grounding for me.

And in times of desperation and stress, I need to find that electric source of energy and remember that the small bubble I’m living in with school and study is not all there is. There’s so much more out there, so many more ways for me to occupy my time and define myself, and so far I’ve discovered several things that are essential to helping me rediscover this state of mind. 

prioritize sleep and food

Some days I either don’t get enough sleep or skip a meal, but this only defers my need for sleep and food to a later time and isn’t productive in the long-term. It’s super important to make the time in the day to cater to the most basic needs. In particular, I’m unfortunately not one of those people that can get by on minimal amounts of sleep. Any less than my daily 8 and I cannot function properly, feel groggy, and most of all – am very susceptible to negative emotions.

exercise

This doesn’t have to be intense. In fact, if I’m tired or it’s cold outside, it’s sometimes better that it isn’t because my body has a hard time recovering. Going for an intentional walk down by the water or spending some time on my mat doing a yoga flow puts me in a great mindset for the rest of the day.

make your life more than just school

The more I venture out to clubs and events where I chat with upper years and master’s students, the more I encounter people who are pursuing their own interests outside of school. These are the kinds of people that have a unique spin to bring on whatever they learn in school and to every conversation they’re a part of. I think it’s infinitely valuable to follow the path that makes you different, because reading books or pursuing a hobby will be something you can tie what you learn back to and help you bring so much more value to what you’re studying.

social events

Building on top of my last point, social events are a great way to recenter. Most networking events leave me feeling inspired and full of ideas of things I want to do or think about, while also reminding me that studying is not everything.

talk to friends

Trusted friends can be one of the best people to talk to, because most often, they are going through the exact same things that you are. Comparing notes on the situation and sharing ways to deal with the stressors you’re both encountering can alleviate some of the loneliness that often comes with falling down the rabbit hole of your own emotions.

call your parents

My parents are my best friends, and I feel lucky that I can always count on them for the right wisdom to get me through whatever I’m struggling with.

put your campus life into perspective

Visit the real world. Checking out non-university events, cafes, restaurants and walking by residential areas is a really great way to remember where you come from and why you’re taking the route you’re taking through life. I’m writing this from the comfort of my heated bed at my parents’ home. I’m here for the Thanksgiving weekend and although I know I’ll be much more homesick when I get back to campus than when I left on Friday, it’s been so nice to know that some things will never change. I’ll always have home to come back to, and the mountains won’t move if I bomb a test.

The world moves on, and my happiness is entirely dependent on the attitude I approach it with.

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Comments (2)

  • StarrySkies

    October 7, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    Definitely needed this!👍 Glad to know I’m not the only one 😅 Thanks for the inspiration to keep on keeping on!

    Reply
  • Emily

    October 13, 2018 at 12:40 am

    Thank you for this, I’m only in high school, but it’s going to be good to put this into action there! xo

    Reply

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Nice to meet you!

Hi, it’s Ioana! I’m a blogger, brand marketer, and recent Queen’s Commerce alumni. When I’m not drinking coffee, reading, studying or exploring the city, I dabble in creative projects like this one!

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ioana | mistral spirit | organization & creativity
Caught the @evergreen_brick_works farmers market t Caught the @evergreen_brick_works farmers market this Saturday for another @usktoronto sketching meetup! Always a great time with this group. 🥳 I’ll admit I didn’t do much sketching this time around… was *very* busy making the rounds at the farmers market. 😜

#usktoronto #torontosketching #evergreenbrickworksmarket #urbansketching #travelsketch
little cup, GIANT smile 🥳 Totally in my elemen little cup, GIANT smile 🥳

Totally in my element at the @usktoronto exhibition reception event at @atoriginto a couple weekends ago. The exhibit showcases sketches by local artists that are primarily done on-location in places we travel to or live in. I’ve tagged a few of the artists so you can tap through to their profiles!

You might remember helping me choose which two sketches to submit to the show application back in December. Check them out hanging right there on the wall in slide 3! 

And HUGE thanks for helping me narrow it down. 🥰

If you’re in the area come check it out. (Or better yet, let’s go together!) 👯‍♀️

#urbansketching #travelsketching #urbansketchers #usktoronto #usk #travelsketchtoronto #urbansketchersexhibit
Some more photos from our @usktoronto urban sketch Some more photos from our @usktoronto urban sketchers meetup this Sunday in Toronto at @theonlycafe!

Instantly loved the interior of this cafe. 👌 I feel like maximalist interiors speak to my soul. Its late and maybe this isn’t quite it, but … they sort of remind me of my favourite people.

#urbansketchers #torontoart #urbansketch #sketchbook #sketching #artjournal #travelsketch #drawyourday #watercolor #urbansketching #sketchjournal #finelinerdrawing #moleskine #moleskinesketchbook #watercolortraveljournal #watercolordrawing #traveljournal #travelwatercolor
The most perfect Sunday morning sketching meetup w The most perfect Sunday morning sketching meetup with @usktoronto at @theonlycafe 🥰 Art + chill + new friends + coffee = happy soul

Thanks for organizing @satori3000! Check out these talented artists: @deshpande.shardul @maragulens @aish_cj @april.sketchedthis @sarawenn17 @beverleydaniels5 @hirtescufineart @sonalipraharajarts @satori3000 @sonyapadovani @michaeltsouras
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Caught the @evergreen_brick_works farmers market t Caught the @evergreen_brick_works farmers market this Saturday for another @usktoronto sketching meetup! Always a great time with this group. 🥳 I’ll admit I didn’t do much sketching this time around… was *very* busy making the rounds at the farmers market. 😜

#usktoronto #torontosketching #evergreenbrickworksmarket #urbansketching #travelsketch
little cup, GIANT smile 🥳 Totally in my elemen little cup, GIANT smile 🥳

Totally in my element at the @usktoronto exhibition reception event at @atoriginto a couple weekends ago. The exhibit showcases sketches by local artists that are primarily done on-location in places we travel to or live in. I’ve tagged a few of the artists so you can tap through to their profiles!

You might remember helping me choose which two sketches to submit to the show application back in December. Check them out hanging right there on the wall in slide 3! 

And HUGE thanks for helping me narrow it down. 🥰

If you’re in the area come check it out. (Or better yet, let’s go together!) 👯‍♀️

#urbansketching #travelsketching #urbansketchers #usktoronto #usk #travelsketchtoronto #urbansketchersexhibit
Some more photos from our @usktoronto urban sketch Some more photos from our @usktoronto urban sketchers meetup this Sunday in Toronto at @theonlycafe!

Instantly loved the interior of this cafe. 👌 I feel like maximalist interiors speak to my soul. Its late and maybe this isn’t quite it, but … they sort of remind me of my favourite people.

#urbansketchers #torontoart #urbansketch #sketchbook #sketching #artjournal #travelsketch #drawyourday #watercolor #urbansketching #sketchjournal #finelinerdrawing #moleskine #moleskinesketchbook #watercolortraveljournal #watercolordrawing #traveljournal #travelwatercolor
The most perfect Sunday morning sketching meetup w The most perfect Sunday morning sketching meetup with @usktoronto at @theonlycafe 🥰 Art + chill + new friends + coffee = happy soul

Thanks for organizing @satori3000! Check out these talented artists: @deshpande.shardul @maragulens @aish_cj @april.sketchedthis @sarawenn17 @beverleydaniels5 @hirtescufineart @sonalipraharajarts @satori3000 @sonyapadovani @michaeltsouras
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- dilettante
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Pls note: photos taken “while reading” are obviously not as impromptu as they may appear on Instagram. They’re usually when (a) you’re on a reading intermission because you either haven’t started or are getting a bit tired of reading for so long or (b) there’s a long period of descriptive text that doesn’t necessarily represent the quality of the book and is a good time to hashtag let-me-take-a-selfie. So don’t read this one page and form an opinion about the book. Instagram isn’t reality. 😜

Pls also note I’m only 40% through the book so my review isn’t definite. I’ve been burned before by jumping too excitedly to recommend a book (in this case, TV show) to everyone around me before realizing it gets WEIRD later on. So take my moment of excitement with a grain of salt - more thoughts to come!
Just received this new pen from @bulletjournal and Just received this new pen from @bulletjournal and @leuchtturm1917 @leuchtturm1917canada! 👀 Here’s a closer look!

Can you tell I had so much fun unboxing this 😅 It’s my new desk pen for days that I want to feel a little ✨fancy✨

#gifted #pen #amwriting #bulletjournalleuchtturm1917 #gelpen #journal #journaling #planner #studygram #aestheticstudy #bujo #bulletjournal #bulletjournalpen #bujopen #minimalistplanner #bulletjournaling #bulletjournalcommunity #penlover
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