How to Deal With Burnout
Addie F.
Published November 18, 2025
6 Minute Read
The end of the semester is creeping up… how are you holding up?
The end of the semester is sneaking up on us, which means it’s time to do a self-check-in. Between never-ending papers, group projects being held together by a thread, and exams, it’s very easy to fall into the ‘just get to the end’ mindset. While this seems like a fine way to go about the end of the semester, that’s how burnout starts to creep in. Before you hit a wall, take a second to stop where you are and really think about what you need, mentally and physically. Are you getting enough sleep? Do you have any sort of ‘me time’ between study sessions? The library is here to not just help you survive winter finals but actually feel okay while getting through it.
Recognizing When You’re Running on Empty
Burnout can sneak up on you. Maybe you’ve been reading the same line over and over for 10 minutes waiting for it to stick, or maybe you keep pushing things off and saying they’re a problem for your tomorrow self. It’s too easy to ignore the signs of burnout as the semester progresses but taking a moment to figure out where you’re at mentally can make a huge difference.
Check-in with yourself and try to find signs that you’re experiencing burnout. Are you exhausted, but still forcing yourself to study for longer? Have you found yourself snapping at the people around you more easily? Have you been prioritizing study-time more than sleep, or living off snacks instead of giving yourself time to eat? These are all red flags, and your brain is probably begging you for a break. Setting aside time for you isn’t lazy; it’s the smartest way to be the most successful you can be as the semester wraps up.
Take Care of Yourself!
While those Stir Fry Cup Noodles taste amazing, you should think about getting something
else into your system. Eat something filling, go for a short walk, or call your parents.
While dead week and finals week are temporary, your well-being as a person is not.
You will perform better and feel better if you take care of yourself as a human, not
just a student!
One thing that is looked over is the magic of eight hours of sleep. Shooting for eight
hours a night, especially during a stressful time like finals, can be life changing. The
same goes for eating food that feeds your brain and makes you feel good instead of
weighing you down. Your brain will work better when it’s running on good sleep and
real fuel, not just an energy drink and a dream!
Staying active is also a key to keeping a clear mind. Utilizing Half Acre Gym is a great way to move your body and melt the stress away. Whether you want to get in a workout, swim some laps, or join a group fitness class, getting active can help clear your mind and boost your energy. A morning yoga session, walking around the track, or an evening cycle can make a huge difference in how you feel mentally and physically during finals week.
Utilizing the Library’s Study Spaces
Sometimes burning out isn’t just because of having too much work; the space you’re working
in could also be contributing. Luckily, UW Libraries has all kinds of study spots
for every kind of student.
If you need complete silence, head to level 5 where you can get things done peacefully. If you work better with background noise, you can utilize our Student Learning Commons on level 1, where you can spread out and get work done in a collaborative environment. If you find yourself working the best in a closed environment, you can reserve a study room for a space where you can really lock in. Study rooms can be booked up to a week in advance and once per day per group.
Something that is often looked over is how effective separating where you study from where you live is. When you study, sleep, and stress all in one space, your brain can start to associate that environment with stress, which makes relaxing 10 times harder. Finding a space that is separate from your living environment to do your work can help you mentally separate and truly gives you relaxing time when you’re winding down from your study sessions.
Explore Our Digital Resources
Researching your final essays can feel like the final nail in the coffin. Luckily,
UW Libraries is here for you with our online databases and research guides. Instead of falling down a sketchy Google article rabbit hole, you can find peer-reviewed
articles, journals, and eBooks all in one place. The best part? As a student, you
have access to all of these things for free! No paywalls to run into.
Not to mention our research librarians who are eager to meet with you to help you with all of your research questions. Whether you’ve found yourself unsure how to end your research or having trouble starting, our librarians are here for you. You can also utilize Zotero, a free citation management tool that keeps you organized while researching and can even generate your citations for you.
Upcoming Destress Events
Make sure to take advantage of Coe’s Wellness & Destress events from December 1st to 8th! Every semester, UW Libraries, the Wellness Center, LeaRN, the Writing Center, ASUW,
UWIN Coe Makerspace, and Residence Life all come together to support students during
the final stretch of the semester.
These events are made for you, the student, to help you recharge, reset, and finish the semester with a bang. From therapy dogs to daily snacks, there is something for everyone who needs a breather between exams and study sessions. The best part? Most of the events are hosted in the library, so if you need to step away from your study room to take a well-earned break, you can!
Your Well-Being > Your To-Do List
At the end of the day, finals are just one part of your entire college journey. Your
mental health and well-being, though, matter all year long. Use this time to check
in with yourself, reach out for help when you need it, and to give yourself credit
for your accomplishments so far. Take advantage of everything UW Libraries has to
offer as your semester comes to an end, whether it’s a quiet corner to study in, a destress event
to unwind, or a reminder that you’re not alone.
Remember, you don’t have to handle stress alone. Click here to connect with wellness and student support services that are here for you.
