Studying hard is not the same as studying too much. On the contrary, overloading yourself can add to your life’s exhaustion, psychological distress, and negativity. Plus, those issues will hardly improve your grades.

The best solution is to take on fewer responsibilities and tasks. Is this always possible? Yes and no.

You can’t just skip assignments and essays that your teachers asked you to write; it’s true. Nevertheless, there is potential to reduce the study burden by addressing the 5 signs described below and increasing its efficiency.

1. You Can’t Get Enough Sleep

This is common among students who overload themselves. So let’s examine why weary learners can’t rest and what they can do about it.

• Not enough time to freshen up. Everyone has a different sleep cycle, but inflexible schedules often leave students with no more than 7 or 6 hours of sleep. In addition, constant tension acts similarly, which adds to that equation.
• You worry about your results. Sometimes young people spend several hours relaxing and stop thinking about exams. Such efforts have a reputation for causing anxiety and reducing learners’ productivity.
• You can’t reduce your screen time. A tremendous load of different tasks means that you are often forced to look at your phone or laptop screen almost constantly, at least when you are awake. In addition, the blue light from those gadgets negatively affects your ability to fall asleep, which increases stress.

With all these factors combined, no wonder videos teaching how to normalize your sleep cycle go viral. One of the most efficient ways to relax involves using the Nature Sounds app. This way, you can fall asleep faster, rest better, and achieve more during the day.

2. You feel like punching someone after class

Aggression is another sign that you must go easy on yourself. There are many “traits” that prove you study too much.

You get angry when someone wants your attention. The simplest gesture of affection from a friend, like a light tap on the shoulder, can drive you crazy. Even compassionate questions like, “Do you need any help?” seem objectionable. If this sounds familiar, you may be overwhelmed with your studies.

The noise drives you crazy. Another aspect of sensory overload is that even the buzz of a fly can cause an outburst. This is because your brain gets too “tired” to see something new. This is when classes weigh you down all the time.

You bite your nails or pull your hair. Imagine reading in a noisy room, where friends discuss the benefits of vaccinations while traffic rages on. This is a warning sign if you instinctively reach for your head.

So, how to stop harming yourself and potentially others because of fatigue? If you get enough sleep but it doesn’t help, try using Headspace or a similar app to practice mindfulness and meditation.

3. You have trouble understanding people

Students struggling with overloading can sometimes misunderstand the simplest signs and phrases. However, that doesn’t make them “slow” in any way. So let’s see what the real issues could be.

• Intense feelings. Imagine that you have just accepted UNSW. You will probably feel happy, to the point where you may burst into tears. However, if someone tells you about an important date right after that, you’ll forget it, which is normal.
• Adaptation to a new environment. You may find lectures and assignments overwhelming even with the part-time study load. However, it is essential to understand that no one can demand complete understanding from you until the fitting process is complete.
• Malnutrition. Students usually eat on the go, often getting fewer calories than they need. So those not going through similar struggles may think that learners are not attentive listeners.

You need to use a schedule planner to focus and keep your diet healthy. That way you’ll understand if you have time for an extra course, when you should eat and what’s on your menu.

4. You Can’t Force Yourself to Work

Learners bored with their university lifestyle often claim they cannot progress, which is no exaggeration. But unfortunately, this is a scenario that leads to that situation.

You are trying your best to be a perfect student and succeed. Lectures and exams may not be over, but you don’t mind because each credit equals a unique opportunity you will use soon.

Your friends might say you’re trying too hard, pointing to the dangers of drinking gallons of coffee and sleeping 4 hours a day. Still, you want to prove that you’re going to be successful. Eventually, something goes wrong, but most people forget the part where that transition occurs.

If you don’t stop in on time, you can feel less capable of doing simple things like brushing your teeth and making bed. In addition, this kind of crazy running can lead to severe medical conditions like depression. Whatever the result, you will get tired and burn out.

One of the best ways to avoid them is to measure your chances beforehand and take on as many additional duties as possible. Then, consider getting professional help with your academic subjects if you’re still ready to do as much as possible without losing your mind.

5. You have to give up your personal life

Sometimes, it seems like countless textbooks build a wall between you and the world. Whether studying online at Unisa or living on campus at Harvard, you may have trouble maintaining your relationships. Fortunately, there are many ways to counteract that issue.

• Manage your study load. You should track how much time you spend on your studies. No wonder your friends don’t get enough attention if that’s more than 12 hours a day!
• Analyze your mistakes. Any relationship requires effort and learning. That’s why even failures can be beneficial—those experiences can tell you how to avoid heartbreak in the future.
• Get help when needed. If you feel like your loneliness is too much, it’s a good idea to try finding therapy online through BetterHelp or other reliable resources. You will need less study load to make time for the sessions, but health should always be your priority.

Sometimes, Motivation Isn’t Enough

It’s essential to love what you do, but driving alone will never be adequate. For example, an uninfected person cannot expect to survive the infection in a crowded place. The same goes for unorganized learners.

Start with the basics, like proper sleep cycles and a healthy diet, to reduce your study burden. With these elements, you can create habits that increase efficiency, so studying takes less time and effort.