How Can Literature Students Avoid the Spring Burnout?
Are you the new member of the coronavirus-avoiding club? It could be the term-du-jour, which your snotty coursemates would argue about it. The outbreak changed your world as you know it, as more universities make that transition from lectures to a virtual format. You may experience burnout sooner than you fear. There's no need to panic, as you only need to make yourself a cup of coffee, sit down, and then plan your routine during the spring semester. You must think about Netflix later.
The virtual format would mean that you spend lots of time in your room. If you happen to be a foreign student, you must be stressed about packing the essential items before leaving the dorm. You might be staying in a relative's home, if not a friend. You're grateful for the generosity during this trying time, but managing the coursework would be another thing. And you happen to be studying literature. It won't be wise to compare your workload with coursemates who are pursuing a dual degree. On the other hand, you don't want to miss the first days of spring, if not the days leading to spring. This is a good reason to get out, but you must have known the precautions. (It's not been proven that warmer weather would keep the coronavirus at bay.) The situation would make you recall about your studies on Modern literature, and how (poor) hygiene might be the cause of the early demise of some authors. This is not the right time to mull about what could have (or should have or would have), even if winter made its final roar.
If you're an incoming freshman, then you don't have a clue about spring burnout. You were unable to ask older students about it (during a campus visit), but you have a vague idea about the number of hours that you put into writing and reading. It won't be long enough, which older students would attest. If you happen to be an incoming second-year student, you have thought about what not to do. (If you're a final-year student, you must consider the hours that you would focus on essays and examinations. It might be lesser time than the previous term, as thesis writing would be a priority.) It's too early to think about the Siege of Boston, even if it sounds melodramatic.
Time would be a factor, and how you manage it could make your spring more memorable or something to forget about. Let's not consider the latter, yet you know that the lockdown affecting millions of citizens in other countries is happening in some parts of America. And it would knock on your door sooner than you fear.
5 Sensible Ways to Ace the Coursework
Forget about the nightlife (or going out). You can't be suspicious of every student you meet especially foreign students who might be troubled about the uncertain future. It would be safe to keep a distance, but it would be silly to assume that technology may enhance the transmission of the virus. If you must replenish your stock of food and drinks, go to the nearest supermarket. Always be considerate when you need to buy the essentials. (Food is more important than tissue paper.) And this is not the time to test each other's patience. If you manage to write essays on long novels and genres that you don't fancy at all, then you would get through this one.
Do your homework in advance. Spring semester is a short period, where every second counts. You might managed to keep a laidback approach during the weeks leading to Christmas, but lightning doesn't strike twice. To make a long story short, read the titles that you would study and write about. Spend your free time browsing the thesaurus, if not books that are remotely connected to the modules. It should expand your vocabulary. And don't hesitate to holler your course mates when you don't understand a certain passage. Think about your own opinion later.
Don't indulge in social media. It's a sign of boredom, and you might have included your coursemates in your list. They may see it differently. They might write a comment. And one or two would include your professors in their friends' list.
It's time to be more active. The elderly may be more susceptible to the coronavirus, but it could affect anyone with a weak immune system. You managed to keep an active lifestyle during the winter season, so it should motivate you to engage in more physical activities during the spring. It would make you feel good, which should make you confident of whatever inconvenience and setback that could happen along the way. You should have learned that trying too hard won't work at times, and it could result in your poor analysis of a written text.
Talk to your tutor and professors (on a regular basis). An exchange of email would suffice for the meantime, but there could be instances when you think that it would be better to arrange a meeting with them. You insist that you have isolated yourself for so long, but you never know. If it's not worth the risk, then try other means. Zoom, if not a video conference, could do it for now.
Looking Forward
There are reports that the vaccine would be available by next year, which would make you worry about the next term. It's too early for that, so focus on the upcoming semester. You missed St. Patrick's celebration, but you could plan for next year. And then there's Easter (holiday). Don't obsess about it, as spending more time with your family matters most.
