Whether you are studying for an exam or trying to solve an elusive coding problem when you challenge your mind, burn out is a real concern. It’s a real conundrum because you know you must put in the hard work to succeed but where do you draw the line in the sand to avoid causing your brain to shut down? It’s enough to make you wonder if there is a way to balance it all. Luckily there are steps you can take to circumvent burn out and still reach your studying or coding goals. We’ll investigate four ways to help you de-stress and succeed.

Plan and organize

It’s understandable, you have a challenging problem you want to solve, and you are excited to delve right in and get to work. Not so fast. Before you sit down and begin flexing your brain, plan and organize. Even if you are just taking on a single problem, you want to ensure you have allotted enough time to get your work done with enough padding to take breaks. Trying to work non-stop is not a recipe for success. Give your mind a rest and you’ll notice your productivity will increase and your focus will return.

Sleep and eat well

It’s the stuff of studying legends, the overworked student staying up all night chugging coffee while cramming for the big exam. Although there are times when working late is a necessity, getting plenty of sleep is vital. So, before beginning your study session, have a hard stop time in mind. Try to allow enough time to get at least six hours of sleep. Oh, and speaking of chugging coffee. Unfortunately, along with everyone’s favorite caffeinated beverage, students tend to eat poorly during study sessions. Instead of opting for unhealthy snack foods that provide empty calories with very little nutrition, try to eat solid meals and snack on fruit and vegetables. It doesn’t sound exciting, but your brain needs fuel, healthy fuel.

Ask for help when you’re stuck

You’ve tried for hours but you just can’t conjure a solution. When you encounter a problem that seems nearly impossible, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether you ask a friend, tutor or an instructor, don’t let your ego get in the way of receiving a much needed helping hand. You’ll notice a significant drop in your stress level once you clear that difficult obstacle.

Remove distractions

You have three friends trying to text you and the café you chose for your study session is becoming a bit too lively. Does this sound familiar? Distractions are the enemy of successful studying, so putting away your phone and locating a quiet place to do your work is prudent. If you need to use your phone, try your best not to get tempted to converse with friends, play games or browse your social media accounts. Additionally, find a quiet location that enables you to concentrate on your work. When you focus, stress tends to melt away.

Now you’re prepared to solve any problem or study for any subject with less stress and more success. When you plan and organize your study time, provide your brain with plenty of rest and nutrition, ask for a helping hand when you’re stuck and eliminate distractions, burn out will become a thing of the past.