By Lily Fay
After coming back from spring break, you might already be feeling the stressors of student life here at SU. Maybe you’ve already had a quiz, maybe your professor has introduced a big group project, or maybe you’re just anticipating summer break.
Either way, it’s the end of March, and you still have a month and a half until you can exist in total freedom, so let’s go over some ways that you can manage yourself physically, emotionally, and behaviorally during this time.
Laziness is seen as a detrimental trait; however, it is the one trait that most college students are prone to befriend during their four years. It is traditionally habitual, but even the most dedicated students can become lazy once in a while.
Laziness pertains to procrastination-based actions, such as finding classes boring or irrelevant, avoiding assignments altogether, and simply not doing the things that a college student signs up to do when they decide to continue their schooling.
This trait can be caused by factors such as an overwhelming feeling of too much work, general fatigue, low motivation, lack of clear goals, and decreased mental health.
Laziness on occasion is acceptable and completely normal. However, as soon as this trait becomes excessive and starts to take over your life, it must be addressed.
To stay focused and push past this trait, students should incorporate some steps into their lives.
- Develop a routine specific to you. This can look like making a ‘to-do’ list at the start of each week or giving yourself a deadline to get your work done before you allow yourself free time.
- Become more aware of what you can do ahead of time. Are there assignments that you could get a head start on as opposed to pushing towards later?
- Take proper notes in class. Just write whatever comes to mind. The lengthier and more detailed the notes are, the more you are likely to remember the information later and stress less.
- Eliminate all distractions. If your phone is constantly in your hands when you are trying to do work, you’ll be much more likely to peak at it. To avoid this, put it aside facedown, in a closed drawer, or turn on Do-Not-Disturb.
- Use positive self-talk. You can’t better your workflow without bettering yourself first. By giving yourself compliments, practicing affirmations, and reminding yourself of your worth, you will feel more adamant about starting and finishing your schoolwork.
Dr. Zoller, a philosophy professor at SU, adds on account of working through laziness, “Good time management can help unwind by at least knowing we have time set aside to do what we need to do.”
Blocking out periods of the day helps immensely with staying focused in college. Even if this time is just 30 minutes in the morning after you wake up, or an hour or two at night after your priorities, your stress levels will go down at just the thought of having a plan set aside.
A class of ’27 student-athlete, Taylor Rothermel, adds, “Laziness can be corrected with the right motivation and group you surround yourself with.” As part of a team, Rothermel has had plenty of experience with athletic-based morale, helping to motivate her during her time at Susquehanna. By reminding yourself that you have people who have your back and who are willing to check in on you, you can avoid laziness and stay on top of your tasks.
On the other end of the spectrum, burnout is what happens when maximum effort is put into things such as assignments, sports performance, and even general life. As it pertains to a student, burnout occurs when you have an excessive workload, chronic fatigue, loss of motivation, a strong desire for a break, and high-stakes pressure. You may feel extremely low on sleep, develop headaches, and even feel irritable towards yourself and others.
According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH, 2025), “Over the last decade, students across the world have been experiencing burnout. The effects of burnout can have a significant impact on their mental health and impede their academic performance.”
Burnout, going unnoticed, can result in dangerous mental health habits, such as procrastination, social withdrawal, and reduced academic performance.
Zoller advises, “Even low levels of burnout are important to pay attention to, but high levels are very serious and deserve serious healing…it is important to plan realistically for when we will get our work done for school and/or career, but we also need to plan for taking care of ourselves, such as exercising, getting sufficient sleep, eating nutritiously and deliciously, connecting with our friends and loved ones, and having time for hobbies and/or volunteering.”
Feeling burned out is normal as a student, but your mental state should never reach a point of intense exhaustion. It is okay to reach out to professors, coaches, friends, and especially family members if you need an open ear. Susquehanna has a plethora of resources for students who feel they are struggling academically, physically, and mentally, such as CAPS and the VIP Center.
Realize also that it is acceptable to take a break from things and focus on yourself. If that means dropping a stressful club or letting a professor know that you need a mental health day. You know your body, take care of it.
Rothermel adds, “It is important to be in touch with yourself and know your limits.” There is no shame in taking some time off or talking to someone you trust if it means you will feel better!
Make sure that as a student here at SU, you prioritize your attention on yourself, especially as classes continue to ramp up, and we eventually approach finals in April. It is important to work hard yet also practice activities that lower your stress levels to successfully function in everyday life.