By Olivia Gacka, PhD Student
I know that as graduate students we face many challenges, but burnout is definitely one of the most prevalent. While there are some elements of being in school that are just always going to be a challenge, there are things we can do to ease the way and make sure we are conserving time and energy where possible.
Here are some tips for building resilience and keeping motivation when it feels difficult:
- Remember why you’re here: You applied to grad school for a reason. Whether that was last year or five years ago, think back to what made you want to start this journey in the first place. Someone I know goes back and reads her application essay for continued motivation, which is a great way to stay motivated and stay focused on your specific goals.
- Ask others: Burnout is often isolating because it can feel like you’re the only one struggling to stay motivated, but that is simply not true. Ask your friends, members of your cohort, or other people in your department, and you’ll see you’re not alone. When you start that conversation, think about asking people you trust for ideas and perspectives that could help you this upcoming semester.
- Reflect on what you need: There is often a tendency to just accept that graduate school is going to be hard. While this is true, it doesn’t mean there isn’t room to cultivate a meaningful and healthy life balance while you’re here. Do you need more hours in the day that are unscheduled? Take another look at your class or work schedule and see if there’s room for adjustment. Talk to your advisor about your priorities and what you can potentially move around to accommodate more time for the things that matter most to you while keeping you on track. Graduate school is a much more personalized journey than we realize!
Tips for Grads is a professional and academic advice column written by graduate students for graduate students at UW–Madison. It is published in the student newsletter, GradConnections Weekly.