Dealing with burnout

[One More Rep]

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Does anyone else feel burnt out? I am almost 30 and trying to start the application cycle next summer. My degree is in English, so I have been taking two prereq classes a semester for the last year. I am taking Bio 1 this summer, Orgo 1, Orgo Lab and Bio 2 in the fall and Orgo 2 next spring while preparing for the MCAT. I also work about 35-40 hours a week between two jobs (one of which I am responsible for about 10 people), coordinate a volunteer program and still try to squeeze in my passion which is dancing. (I am a member of a studio and spend about 10-12 hours a week there). Let's not even talk about needing to find some doctors to shadow and get more clinical volunteer hours.

Someone told me the other day that I spread myself too thin and I need to relax sometimes. HA! I know it will all be worth it when I get an acceptance, but I am losing my mind in the meantime. My GPA is solid, thankfully, but I am becoming more and more antisocial and reclusive by the day. If anyone has some relaxation tips, let me know.

Sorry for the rant. I just need to get it out! Good luck to everyone in the same boat.

 

[OneTyme]

I think a lot of people here on SDN feel where you are coming from. Remember that being “spread too thin” is a term of relevance. Everyone has 24 hours in a day. Some people work 40 hours in a demanding career field, take 6 classes, volunteer, shadow, and start non-profit organizations. Other people take lots of naps. You have to find your particular modus operandi.

Whenever I get really tired and I am feeling the sting of never ending exams I try to think about my marathon training. When it gets tough it is as simple as putting your left foot in front of your right foot and putting your right foot in front of your left foot. It sounds easy but trust me, when it gets that tough nothing is easy.

Remember, thousands of people have followed the path before you. You can do it too.

Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot…..

 

[NJ BK]

I can relate. It's like running an endless race. But it's good that you have a way to let it all out by dancing. I dance too, but haven't been in a while. I just keep telling myself that it'll pay off in the end. Good luck and hang in there!

 

[Crelal]

I remember the pre-acceptance days- there were so many times I was like

Take time to work out or just do something totally different. Last time I was burned out with school, apps, work, volunteering we just dropped everything and made a day trip to Door County (WI) to just swim and explore.

Sometimes you need to forget about everything and be spontaneous. We often have our lives SO planned out, that we forget how to do that. Just don't do it the day before an exam. 😉

And it is all worth it, especially when you get that acceptance letter from your dream school 😍

 

[BillytheEchidna]

I can definitely relate to feeling burnt out! I'm apparently in the home stretch (waiting to hear if I've been accepted to dental school, finishing my last prerequisites), but I feel so weary of the work-plus-school thing. I've basically been working full-time (30-40 hours) since fall of 2006, going to school through the summers. Being able to focus solely on being a dental student practically sounds like a vacation from here... 🙂

I'm not trying to complain, because I'm glad I did it, but it's been hard! Washing dishes, doing laundry, and going to the gym are luxuries to me now, and I constantly nod off when I'm trying to read my Biochemistry book. I think I would have had the energy for this pace when I was 20, but now that I'm 30, it's pretty draining! You are demonstrating good time-management skills, which professional schools love. Keep that GPA up there! I have a few Casualties, with a capital "C", on my transcript.

 

[mdofn14]

I also have crazy work hours. I try to have some fun on saturday night for a couple hours(a good movie or a nice restaurant).

 

[disabledNeurops]

Been in school too long and have a long way to go!