It is widely acknowledged on campus that junior year is the most challenging year of high school. Whether it’s the pressure of the SAT, resume-building, extracurricular activities, or simply keeping up with regular school work, I now understand what my senior friends meant when they warned me last year. I always thought I’d avoid junior-year burnout, but recently, my schedule has been overwhelming. Between DECA competition season, SAT prep, and my regular course load, every weekend feels like I am working on a thousand things at once—yet somehow, accomplishing nothing at all. 

I don’t intend for this article to sound rambly, so I decided to focus on what I’m doing to make my burnout a little more manageable. 

First, I focus on writing everything I must complete chronologically. I used to track my assignments daily using Google Keep, but recently, I switched to weekly checklists and found them more effective. After creating my to-do list, I organize my tasks by the due date and check them off as I go. 

Additionally, I set goals for tasks that I need to complete daily. For example, I now dedicate at least 30 minutes to an hour each day towards SAT prep. This helps me make steady progress while staying consistent. I’ve also noticed on some days, once I finish my other tasks, I end up doing way more SAT prep than planned. 

My mind works like this: “I have to complete four things and only five hours to do them, so each task should be completed in a maximum of 1.25 hours.” Because of this, using a Pomodoro timer has been a game-changer. A Pomodoro timer is a time management tool that breaks work into intervals, helping me stay on track. Additionally, I’ve found that having a timer running while I work not only keeps me aware of how long I spend on each task but also pushes me to keep advancing. Plus, I look forward to rewarding myself with a well-deserved break once I complete a task within the set time frame. 

I have found that staying organized and positive—by tracking assignments, setting goals, and using a Pomodoro timer—has helped me tremendously during moments when I feel on the verge of burnout. I hope this has been useful to you! Remember to take it one step at a time and stay focused. Happy studying!