An HONEST CHAT about ACADEMIC BURNOUT - My Experience and Advice

[@ohitsme8444]

Hey! After having experienced a total academic burnout, for me, this video is a little too raw to watch, so I’m not going to. (Still giving it a thumbs up). I just want to say thank you so much for making this video. Academic burnout is not seriously addressed in the StudyTube community and, in my opinion, that is highly dangerous. If anyone is experiencing something anything like burnout, I hope my (very long and rambly) story can help you feel less crazy: I worked straight (through all holidays including summer) from the beginning of Year 12 until January mocks of Year 13. I started up and edited school magazine, applied to Oxbridge (gained an offer) and maintained A/A* grades in my humanities A Levels. Everything went on the back burner apart from my studies because this Oxbridge course meant so much me (it still does, only now my summer is cancelled until results day); this meant that I retook almost every test and rewrote almost every essay until it was an A. The hours were longer than a full time job! I know that in school, my relationship with teachers went down hill drastically, despite getting good grades and putting in, quite frankly, unreasonable amounts of personal effort. I was held behind in class and assembly for my “attitude”, which entirely broke my heart, as academic pursuit is my one love, especially in my uni subject. I had always been a good student, and had a good rapport with teachers, and so I couldn’t fathom why they were so angry with me. •Retrospectively, I was always stressed. I was gathering up massive sleep debt as I worked late at night/early in the morning and didn’t take any *real* time off. I was miserable, it showed, and it transferred into other areas of my life/impacted others. I just couldn’t see it.• After these floods of criticism came in, I began to feel a lot of resentment to my teachers, and so took on a lot of ‘self study’, as I couldn’t focus in their classes, too worried if I would be yelled at again that day. This all but doubled my workload as 5 hours a day at sixth form were wasted worrying about my resting b*tch face and bad attitude. I did all of my work at home. Around the November time, I received my Oxbridge interview invite. To me, the world had stopped spinning. I had to do everything I could to be academically prepared for this interview. I did the bare minimum in school (just the homework, and no revision) despite January mocks. It was clear that a lot was expected of me in these mocks, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was interview prep. So, after my interview (the beginning of December) my preparation for January mocks began. Because of Christmas/Family obligations, this gave me about two weeks to prep for mocks. Anyone who has studied for A Levels knows that achieving an A in three humanities, which was what was expected of me, in two weeks is ENTIRELY impossible. I worked and worked and worked. I sat my first mock, had a panic attack (crying for the whole two hours), left it blank, called my mum, and went home. I have *very* little memory of what happened in the following week and a half. My mum called me in sick to school, arranged with my teachers for me to sit my mocks later on, and let me stay home. I felt like I was in total shock, like I wasn’t inside my body. I have a complete loss of memory for the days that followed, I couldn’t tell you what I did/where was for the remainder of that week if you paid me. Months later, I still don’t know. This, my friends, was a burnout. At the time, when I came back into myself, I felt like a complete failure. I acknowledged that I physically couldn’t have sat my mocks, but I still felt so incredibly weak for having to quit. So, um, no matter how good you are at school, this shiz can, and will, still happen to you. So if you’re going into year 13 or year 12, listen! Take it from the overachieving teacher’s pet, there is only so much work you can do. The more you work, the more you need to relax. You simply *can’t* work as long as you want to, or think you need to, no matter how academically driven or capable you are. Sorry for the rant! Stay sane, lovelies ❤️

[@tay-ql3vh]

academic burnout is such a real and scary issue and needs to be spoken about more so thank you for sharing this

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you so much for sharing this and I'm sorry you had to go through this! I agree with you that it isn't addressed as much as it should be in the studytube community, so I'm just trying to do my lil bit to help de-stigmatise it and raise awareness I guess (and thank you for doing the same!) I really hope you feel better soon and I wish you the best of luck for your results, whatever happens, be proud that you got through it :) xx lots of love

[@idrk1507]

Magda Nikkii I just have a question. I simply don’t get how the study tube community doesn’t get burnouts. Take Ruby Granger as an example. She does insane amounts of hours, but doesn’t get burnouts because she still works many hours and hardly talks about burnouts (which leads me to think she doesn’t get burnouts). My question is, how?!?! How don’t the study tube community get burnouts?!? Is it that they’re just lucky or what??!

[@tay-ql3vh]

academic burnout is a very real issue which can have dark consequences/after effects in terms of lasting mental health issues. its definitely an issue that is brushed over alot especially by the older generation and NEEDS to be recognized for what it is and spoken about alot more in order for changes to be made and generally to raise awareness because a large part of it is the stigma. this is a long winded way of saying thankyou for speaking on this topic and utilizing your platform. I'm glad to hear you're feeling more yourself now, sending love to you xx

[@tay-ql3vh]

also quick side note love the short hair!

[@MagdaWeronika]

thank you so much! I completely agree, it is brushed off by a lot of people and if you experience it you can sometimes feel so inadequate and alone as it isn't a topic people generally talk about and it isn't as acknowledged as it should be, both by adults and I guess the studytube community. just wanted to have an open chat and hope that others can relate and some awareness of this issue can be raised :)

[@abbierose6586]

I struggled so much in my first year med, I did really well leaving school but for some reason I really struggled at uni. I’m in my second year now and I’m doing so much better! (I’m in Australia so my school years are Feb-Nov) I loved finding your channel and seeing that you struggled as well, it made me feel more human 😂 I also love how real you are, it makes people like me realise we’re not alone! 😂

[@MagdaWeronika]

Hey, thank you for sharing, I'm glad you're better now and I'm hoping that's what happens for me too! I think we all need to remember that we can't be perfect all the time and it's ok to not be ok 💜💜

[@friggazhu9669]

Thank you so much for this video. I am studying in a well-known university in China, and I have experienced exactly the same as you this semester. Most people around me are like doing ridiculous hours of working a day, and I just felt so burnt out. I was anxious all the time. I didn’t want to work but I felt guilty for every minute not working. But later on, I find out that there is no need to comparing with others of how long time you work each day. It is work life balance and being able to work sustainably that matters. Thanks again for the video and I totally agree with you!

[@MagdaWeronika]

thank you! and yes, I totally agree that your own work-life balance is so much more important than how much work you are doing compared to other people

[@helenhamilton2544]

My first Christmas break of studying medicine at Cambridge, I got so sick of revision that one day I just couldn't face sitting down to my computer and cried for a good few hours. That wasn't from working hundreds of hours a week, but I was just doing more than I personally could cope with and not taking proper breaks enough. My brain would switch off when it got dark out, and instead of working around that by getting up earlier or moving the harder stuff to the beginning of the day, I'd just feel guilty all the time when I'd not go back to my laptop after 4pm. It's all relative not only to other people but also to yourself at different points. Over Easter break, I took every weekend off, worked a half day on Friday, and it meant when I was revising I felt a lot better. Still got through most of everything because my brain wasn't as overworked I guess and functioned better. And then the stuff I didn't get through, I didn't panic about because I was in a better state of mind. Plus I had a lot more perspective, realising that the amount of content and level of content is not like a level where you can possibly remember it all and understand most of it eventually. So I'd stop feeling guilty about forgetting things and just think that each time I looked over it, it would make it easier to recall later on. Plus the fact that if you think of exams as single entities and not as a means to an end, that can get you down. At the end of the day, for medicine, you have to pass and you can become a doctor, the degree by which you pass won't hold you back from achieving your dream.

[@helenhamilton2544]

Also. There's this stigma around only doing the minimum amount needed to get your goal, like that makes you lazy or something, but really, if you're working more than you NEED to, that's ridiculous, because by doing so, you're sacrificing all these other experiences and parts of life. Like you said, people can probably have got the same A Level grades with less work and in those other hours could have relaxed or socialised or done a hobby etc. Good enough is good enough, there's nothing wrong with that mentality

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thanks so much for sharing this, it was much needed 😊 xx glad you're in a better state!

[@helenhamilton2544]

Hopefully this year will be better for us !

[@zetch972]

“some study with mes can be unrealistic” *cough* Ruby Granger *cough* Great vid Magda!

[@Jjjkluejnek]

Thanks for making this video and being so genuine and sincere. Right now, I can totally relate to what you’ve gone through. I’m currently in the final year of my law degree and throughout the past 3 years I’ve spent at least 6 days every week in the library and now feel very much burnt out. Whilst my grades haven’t taken a hit, I find it excruciatingly hard to get work done, what’s worse I want to, I even leave the house but somehow end up doing hardly anything. There’s so much pressure to not only perform within uni - which is competitive enough - but to also dedicate your free time and summers towards internships in order to ‘stand out’. Looking back, I should have enjoyed my free time more and made some more memories with friends. I am hoping SO MUCH that I can get to the end of this year with a good grade and hopefully a good job to at least feel that this effort hasn’t gone in vain. 😢

[@bIoomingjasmine]

I got my BA degree while suffering with anxiety but somehow I pushed through and I always succeeded with good grades. Now I'm studying to get my MA degree but it's a whole different story, I'm having such a hard time getting through it. I have no motivation, exams pile up and I just fail or don't even prepare. Lately my suicidal thoughts have been through the roof and I'm so miserable that I barely recognize myself in the mirror. Of course I wanna succeed, I've struggled with eating disorders my whole life while I was in college too and I managed to lose 100 lbs, I fell and picked myself up again and the battle with food is 10 times harder than exams, I know that, but somehow I just cannot get myself of out this dark tunnel I crawled into. I don't wanna study, I refuse to. I don't wanna drop out though and being in this perpetual limbo just drives me insane. There's days where I wake up and I just wanna end it, I go to bed and I pray God to put an end to this suffering because all the anxiety, the pressure, the desire to graduate but the physical impotency of doing so is making me lose my fucking mind. Therapy doesn't help and I wonder what will then. Sometimes all I need is to believe in the "everything is gonna be okay" but then I realize I have no will to put efforts and do the work.

[@Dr_Analise]

I am an Indian student.. I was top of my class through school and secondary school... and then when I joined medical college I had zero guidance and tried to read everything cause thats what i did always .. not realising that its not possible and I wasnt putting daily effort.. so I barely managed to pass with so-so marks but the following years when our clinical postings started ... the entire system made sense and I studied hard.. I never counted my hours.. I just Completed what my target was and made sure my knowledge was conceptual and learnt well enough.. I worked hardest in my final year and I aced my exams... 2 years later into residency ... I had no time to study well enough., I just worked as a junior doctor real hard and ungodly 36-72 hour shifts! twice in one week... but in the end I cleared it and now as a obgyn I realise that everything has changed... No one has it perfect.. its daily persistence that matters 😃 just complete ur portion of study dont fret how long it takes ..

[@samjones6258]

It's good that you're honest about it. I must say that watching your past videos especially during your first year at Cambridge....got me worried as anyone could clearly see that you were overdoing it. It's good to let everyone know that it's not worth it.

[@Jenny-tn1og]

Magda - thank you. Different degree subject but other than that my study 'story' is almost identical. I imagine in some ways allowing yourself time to watch Scooby Doo is almost a bigger achievement for you than committing yourself to the work regime you are so used to. It's such an important thing to get right. For me years of burnout means I would never go near academia again and prefer the comfort of a 9-5 job. Realise this isn't an option for your dream career but just know I get how awful burnout feels. Best wishes xx

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you very much! And thanks for sharing 😊 hope you're well x

[@Jenny-tn1og]

So brave of you to share. I'm good thanks. Now work supporting students with study skills...often giving advice that you and I followed that little bit too much if you get me ha ha

[@rowelee8019]

Such an important topic, thank you Magda for shedding some light on this as a reminder, I think, that we all need sometimes, especially in an environment as competitive as medicine. So glad you seem to be feeling in a better place and at the very least, it's so good to identify that you aren't ok so the people around you can support you :) I'll be a first year medic starting in September. For me and probably so many other subscribers, this is just the pointer we needed to remember to look after ourselves through it all. Because after all, we're human too. It took courage to open your heart like this and it's *always* ok to talk. And if this comment section proves anything, just like you said, no matter what you're going through you might be surprised how many people have walked the same road; you're never alone. Hope the new term brings you happiness defined on your terms and do take care

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you resonated with the video :) I totally agree with what you're saying, and thank you for your kind words :)

[@refiloechaisi4765]

Damn, this video has me crying. This is so beautiful to hear.

[@gd4761]

Brilliant advice! I’m such an academic perfectionist and i needed to remind myself of this for my next 2 years of uni

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you I'm glad it was helpful xx good luck for the next 2 years

[@alinazina2477]

Just wanted to say that I love your content and am always looking forward to your videos!

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you so much 😊x

[@subhanahmed4879]

Why did this make me cry for you 😢! Magda you got this!!! ❤️

[@MagdaWeronika]

Hehe thank you

[@scarletpoon529]

thank you magda for such a meaningful video! love your insights and i'll be applying to read law at cambridge this year so fingers crossed i can realise my dream!!

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you and good luck! X

[@RishikaSinghthetraveler]

This is really relatable , thanks for sharing xx

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you for watching! Xx

[@WereGreen]

Thank you for being so honest in the video!

[@LKW12950]

Very important vid, needed this. Also looking stunning as usual!!

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you!! (for both hehe) :) x

[@lucrezia7241]

I loved this video!! ❤️❤️

[@MagdaWeronika]

Thank you Lucrezia! 💛

[@davidsweeney111]

very important subject, excellent video, how do you think you will cope when you become a doctor and have got to work say 8 or even 12 hours per day and burnout is not an option because you are likely taking life and death decisions? I think most people in work have perpetual chronic fatigue syndrome, I know that is probably the case for me, I don't sleep well at all, but no one wants to say anything or the whole nature of how we work will have to change!

[@MagdaWeronika]

Hey, thanks! I'm not really thinking about that for now, I'm hoping that I'll be in a better state by then but I know that I will probably be chronically tired too. I think my perspective has definitely changed though, I'm not going to try to over-do it and try to go ridiculously above and beyond anymore, because I know it ends badly. :)

[@tangerinecoral1822]

Thank you, thank you, thank you xxxx

[@MagdaWeronika]

❤❤

[@LeahRebecca]

needed this 🥺

[@karahimmsn]

Yassss !!!!! First view Xoxo 💛💛

[@MagdaWeronika]

Wooh!

[@itwithpatrick3866]

Just finished a group assignment (5 people) I had to solo because yer groups can be like that, 411 hours later (one month about 12 hours a day give or take) And I'm destroyed, had two weeks extension, and now I'm about to start another semester. Gpa of 6.7 out of 7. I'm hoping I can bounce back, but at the moment, I'm just exhausted.