May is supposed to be “the best month,” but I am absolutely burnt out. Finals, graduation parties, spring cleaning, and trying to secure a summer internship have left me feeling like a shell of a human. I’m snapping at my friends and I just want to sleep for a month. How do I get my “spark” back when I have zero gas left in the tank?
—Burned Out in the Valley
Dear Burned Out,
You are experiencing the “May Slump.” It’s the result of running a marathon (the academic year) and being told you have to sprint the final mile.
The Move: It’s time for a “Priority Audit.” Look at your calendar for the next two weeks. What is actually mandatory, and what is just “social pressure”? You don’t have to go to every single graduation bonfire. You don’t have to have the “perfect” summer internship locked in by May 15th.
Give yourself permission to do the bare minimum for 48 hours. Order the takeout, let the laundry pile up, and turn off your notifications. You aren’t a machine; you’re a person who needs a recharge.
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