Battling Student Burnout

Battling Student Burnout graphic

By Paris Auerweck

As an overwhelmed college student staring down multiple mental health diagnoses, I have felt stuck in a hole more times than not. It can feel like there’s so much to do but nowhere to begin my thoughts.

The mental health crisis for teens and young adults has been increasing during high school and college years. The Healthy Minds Study during the 2020-2021 school year of 373 college campuses found that over 60% of students met the bill for at least one mental health issue. 

I tend to overlook how much work it takes to be a full-time student. The pressures and responsibilities that come with it are heavy. It’s very easy to fall into a long spiral of I don’t know what to do.

While these feelings of hopelessness and depressive burnout may seem irreversible, there are ways to work on slowing down your thoughts to a less alarming level. Being a full-time student will always be hard work but, here’s what I have found helps me the most.

Don’t look at the big picture.

Although this may seem like bad advice, those with mental struggles find navigating countless deadlines, class schedules, extracurriculars and family life to feel utterly suffocating. There are hours I have wasted trying to calm down my anxiety but still repeating I have so much to do in my head. Taking your days one step at a time makes a huge difference. When I am feeling particularly overworked, I like to write down what I need to do only for that day. By the time the day is over, I’m at ease knowing I completed what I intended to. 

Communicate your thoughts aloud.

Mental illness can make communication with others a challenge. 

“Asking for help seems as easy as picking up a phone, but that phone can sometimes feel like it weighs a thousand pounds. It may be a simple notion but it takes practice.”

 Speaking my thoughts verbally alone or in front of others helps me put things into perspective; I am not drowning and alone. There are others that will listen to and support me, as some may be going through the same feelings. Sharing your struggles with faculty, peers and friends can be uncomfortable but, leaving things unspoken proves worse for intrusive thoughts. When I say things out loud, they seem less intimidating and more achievable. 

Listen to your body.

Even with a full schedule, I can often feel as though I am never doing enough. Sometimes it feels as though there is a voice in your head telling you to do more, what you are doing now is not quite good enough. When thoughts like this spiral around in your mind, your physical well-being can take a toll. This creates excess fatigue, worse sleep and much lower energy. If you take a step back and listen to what your body is saying, you realize that your thoughts are not telling you the truth, you are in fact doing enough. Pay attention to what your body is telling you; constant headaches, sore body, fatigue, changing eating habits and nausea could all be part of a bigger problem. It can be hard to make time for self-care but it’s important you do. Eliminate your distractions completely and give yourself the space to reflect on what you have done recently to make yourself feel good. If you fall short, start prioritizing your needs. 

Change your environment

Being outside is a perfect reminder that things are constantly moving. When I am in a space of hopelessness or burnout, taking a walk alone helps me think clearer and doubt myself less. If you are stuck sitting in a place with nowhere to start, get out of your environment and see what perspectives change. 

Balancing life as a student while trying to preserve your mental state can be done. It takes time and patience but, you have to acknowledge the problem openly and make it a priority. Mental well-being is integral to self-improvement and one’s overall health. 

If you are struggling, you do not have to do it alone. Asking for help can put you in a great position to improve and grow as a person. Visit the California Department of Education’s Mental Health Resources page for more resources on where to start. 

Online Resources for Graphic Design

Graphic design of a laptop

By Claudia O’Brien

As a graphic designer, having a foundational knowledge of graphic design principles is essential but can always be helped with tools and resources. 

“We live in an age where there is endless information and material provided by renowned designers and artists online for free.” – Claudia O’Brien

I believe using this online field of information to an advantage is essential to any design student looking to advance their skills. In this blog, I will feature several of my most favored resources online.

Chico State’s Adobe Creative Cloud

I shouldn’t write a blog about this topic without mentioning our university’s prepaid subscription to Adobe. Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription package that enables access to all Adobe software, fonts, free images, and more. If you’re a student enrolled at Chico State, all you need to do is submit a request to the university’s IT support team and download the Adobe Creative Cloud dashboard. The university offers this service completely free for students.

Colors

Sometimes knowing color theory isn’t enough to create an appealing set of hues right out of your head. My first go-to is Coolors.co. Fabrizio Bianchi founded the website and is a web developer known for creating exceptional and contemporary websites. 

The biggest sell on this particular site is its highly interactive color palette generator. The generator displays attractive color palettes that can be randomized to another color palette, customized by individual hue, be tested for color blindness/accessibility, and many more features on the same web page. Each generated color has its color codes on display for users that are looking for the most suitable hues for screens and printing. Besides the generator, the website has other unique features: hundreds of palettes created and shared by other users, a tool for picking colors from images, and a contrast checker.

Free Images

Free images are classified as public domain- they do not require copyright and royalty fees. Unsplash.com is a beginner-friendly site that has many high-quality free images. The website does not require users to make an account, and there is no limit on the number of images you can download. The images are categorized by themes of Travel, Nature, Business, etc. The site also offers a search engine. When clicked, each photo lists the photographer’s name, the location, and the type of camera used.

Mockups

A mockup is a model meant to display a product or design. An example is a design that has been digitally applied to an image of a T-shirt. When a design is shown to a client, they want to see what the design looks like on the product, not just the design by itself. Mockups can be created within Adobe software, but that takes time and skill. Smartmockups.com offers many customizable mockups free of charge. Users can upload their design to any of the offered images and 3D models and download a JPEG of a completed mockup image.

All in all, countless more free resources are available. I encourage any designer to take advantage of them, as they are there to be used! If you’re interested in learning about more design resources, this article provides various websites to check out.