A College Student’s Guide to Avoiding Burnout (Even During Finals Week)

• Chris The Grad
• 0 Comments
• December 20, 2025

By: Chris the Graduate 

Burnout during finals week is basically a college tradition at this point. Between trying to keep your grades up, finishing lab reports, running to work shifts, and pulling late nights in the library, it’s easy to hit a wall mentally and physically.

But lately, I’ve been trying to change how I approach finals season. Instead of running myself into the ground, I’ve figured out some practical ways to stay energized and keep my focus without losing my sanity.

Here’s the honest guide to avoiding burnout during finals week, written by someone who’s survived more than a few:

1. Plan Your Week, Not Your Entire Life

Don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to plan out the entire month. Finals week is chaotic enough. Every Sunday night, I sit down and make a simple breakdown of the week:

• Which exams do I need to study for
  
• Which assignments are due
  
• On which days do I work
  
• What absolutely cannot be pushed back
  

This keeps your mind clear and reduces that “I’m forgetting something” stress.

2. Use the 45/15 Rule

Study deeply for 45 minutes. Take a 15-minute break. Repeat.
This is the perfect way to avoid burnout because your brain can only absorb so much at once. Bonus: those 15-minute breaks actually help you remember more.

3. Stick to Your Morning Routine

Your morning can literally decide your whole day. Even during finals, I keep the same routine:

• Wake up
  
• Hit the gym
  
• Shower
  
• Light breakfast
  
• Start the day with something small and easy
  

It keeps your body in rhythm, which helps your mind stay stable.

4. Don’t Sacrifice Sleep for Studying

Pulling all-nighters feels productive, but the science doesn’t lie—you retain way less when you’re exhausted. Finals week studying is a marathon, not a sprint. At least 6 hours of sleep will help you stay functional.

5. Keep Eating Like a Human Being

Finals week has a way of turning normal meals into chips, ramen cups, and energy drinks. Try to eat at least one real meal a day with protein. Your brain actually works better when you’re fueled right.

6. Don’t Let Small Tasks Pile Up

Laundry, dishes, cleaning your desk, these little things build mental pressure. Taking 10 minutes to reset your space gives you a sense of control. A clear workspace = clearer thinking.

7. Move Your Body

Even if you can’t hit the gym, get up and walk. Stretch. Do something physical. Movement releases stress, increases focus, and literally reboots your brain.

8. Have One Daily Non-Academic “Reset Activity.”

This could be:

• 20 minutes of gaming
  
• Music
  
• A short drive
  
• Talking to a friend
  
• Watching one episode of something
  

As long as it isn’t hours long, it helps prevent burnout by giving your brain a small escape.

9. Permit Yourself to Slow Down

You don’t need to match everyone else’s pace. If you need an hour to recharge, take it. Burnout occurs when you continually push past your limits, not when you take breaks.

10. Remember Finals Don’t Define You

Your grades matter, yes. But finals week is not a measure of your worth or intelligence. You’re a student, a friend, a worker, an athlete, a leader, not just an exam taker.

Staying balanced during finals isn’t about being perfect. It’s about staying steady, taking breaks, and remembering that you’re human.