RISE Blog | Mid-Semester Slump vs. Burnout: Recognizing the Difference and Finding Support

Written By: Lily Sparks, Xinran Yi, Gabrielle Odunuyi, and Funmi Arowolo, Peer Educators
Edited By: Faith Dolan
October 3rd, 2025

Introduction 

You know that point in the semester when your energy disappears, your to-do list looks scary, and even your favorite subjects feel like a drag? That's the mid-semester slump. It's a common dip in motivation and productivity that hits when the finish line still feels far away. Being able to recognize this slump and why it happens can help you be more in tune with yourself and your mental health. In addition, checking in with yourself can help you identify if you're experiencing a slump or something deeper, such as burnout. By knowing the signs of a slump and burnout, as well as the difference between them, you can learn how to take care of yourself and find the right support. 

Mid-Semester Slump: What is it?  

The mid-semester slump tends to hit students around the halfway point of a term, which is when homework is piling up, exams are around the corner, and it feels like your to-do list is never-ending. It's more than a bad day; it's a stretch of time where everything feels harder. Signs of this slump can include: 

• wanting to skip class
• feeling like you're not retaining any information
• having a hard time concentrating
• feeling overwhelmed
• procrastination
• less motivation (Danzman, 2024) 

During a mid-semester slump, you may find yourself dreaming about summer or winter break or questioning your degree and career choices. It may also feel very tempting not to work on an essay until the day it is due or not to worry about studying until the night before an exam. Here, we can see that a lack of motivation can lead to procrastination, which can, in turn, result in poor grades and performance, making it even harder to find motivation.  

Once we're in this cycle, it may be hard to realize that we are in it. This is why it is important to know the signs before you start studying for your first test or reading your syllabi. However, if you find yourself in a slump, remember that it is very possible to overcome it. 

Getting Unstuck 

It may seem impossible, but by making a few intentional changes, you can regain motivation and get back on track academically. So, here are some helpful ways to beat the slump: 

1. Change your study environment: Moving from home to a library or coffee shop, for example, can help you refresh your mind and stay away from distractions

2. Take advantage of office hours: If exam preparation feels overwhelming, try visiting your professor’s office hours and asking for guidance on your study material. Professors always welcome students who are willing to learn.  

3. Fight the need to procrastinate: Feeling overwhelmed can often lead us to procrastinate (Danzman, 2024). However, by combating that overwhelming feeling, we can avoid falling into the trap of procrastination. Try breaking your studying and assignments into small chunks and taking breaks between them. 

4. Be realistic about your limits: Sometimes, focusing on being perfect can make it harder to find motivation. When setting goals for yourself, ensure they are realistic and don't require you to function like a robot (Danzman, 2024). 

It’s important to know that a mid-semester slump can easily shift into something more intense and deeper. Knowing the difference between a slump and burnout can be hard, so in the next section, we'll talk about burnout, what it looks like, and ways to overcome it.  

What is Burnout?

Burnout is a prolonged or more intense decline in well-being. It can creep in whenever stress keeps piling up until you're emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. Juggling too many clubs, volunteering nonstop, or having a mountain of family responsibilities can take a toll on students. Over time, this overflowing plate that leaves no time for breathing can lead to irritability, fatigue, loss of enjoyment, a sense of disconnection, or an inability to cope. 

Academic burnout, a more specific type of burnout, is an experience not unfamiliar to college students. Academic burnout is a psychological and behavioral disorder triggered by academic stress and overload, manifesting as emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of academic inefficiency, significantly negatively impacting students' mental health and academic performance (Tian, 2024). Students who are experiencing academic burnout may experience these signs: 

• emotional exhaustion 
• feelings of isolation 
• difficulty concentrating 
• lower grades 
• less motivation 
• chronic fatigue 
• headaches 
• trouble falling asleep 
• feeling tired enough to sleep in class  
• getting annoyed more easily 
• wanting to skip lunch or not take breaks 
• getting sick more often 
• skipping class so you have more time to study 
• using alcohol or nicotine to try to feel better 
• feeling overwhelmed 
• not having the time or energy for hobbies (Gardenswartz, 2024; Gillis, 2023)

Students experiencing burnout may feel like they must accept that it is normal and something that all college students experience. However, it does not have to be. With awareness, you can take the right steps towards getting the help you need. 

Prevention and Harm Reduction 

Taking care of yourself doesn't have to be a last resort. While it is important that we take steps to prevent burnout, it is equally important for us to know what to do if we experience it. Whether you are experiencing a mid-semester slump and trying to prevent burnout, have previously experienced burnout, or are currently in the midst of it, these methods can help you find support in a way that feels comfortable for you.

1. Build in personal breaks: It is okay to pace yourself and take a breather when necessary. It is also okay to use those few minutes or hours to stretch, take a walk, grab a snack, or watch an episode of your favorite TV show (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). 

2. Implement coping strategies in your daily routine: Whether it is calling a friend, listening to music on your way to class, treating yourself to something sweet after work, or taking a warm bath, try to find an easy coping strategy that you can use while busy. 

3. Practice mindfulness: For a few minutes every day, take a moment to notice any tension in your body or the feelings you are experiencing in that moment. This can help you stay connected to your body and decrease anxiety. 

4. Prioritize rest: Motivation becomes a lot harder if we do not get 7-9 hours of sleep every night. All-nighters and late nights at the library may seem like they can help our grades, but they really make it harder for us to remember things. In fact, just one all-nighter leads to impairments that are equivalent to having a BAC of 0.10% (CDC, 2020). To avoid this, try to spread out studying or use naps as a study break. 

5. Don't forget to eat: Studies show that skipping meals prevents students from being able to think clearly while studying or attending classes (Mathunjwa et al., 2024). To keep yourself nourished, try keeping snacks in your backpack or keeping some easy meals in your freezer. Remember, fed is best! 

6. Know when to ask for help: If left untreated, burnout can lead to anxiety or depression (Molina, 2025). However, help and recovery is always available. The Texas Tech Student Counseling Center offers free counseling to students with minimal wait times. In addition, the Texas Tech Student Mental Health Community offers a safe space with like-minded students to support, encourage, and provide friendship to each other while pursuing mental health and well-being. You can find more information about these resources towards the end of this blog. Remember, if you are going through a hard time, you don't have to go through it by yourself. 

You're Not Alone

Feeling slumped is a common feeling, but feeling burnt out is a sign that you may need extra support.  Wherever you find yourself, remember to give yourself grace and remember that you will not feel like this forever! By recognizing slump and burnout early, responding with intention, and learning how to tell the difference, you can make the most of your college experience. 

Resources

• Texas Tech Crisis Helpline
  • 806.742.5555
• Student Counseling Center
  • 806.742.3674 | studentcounselingcenter@ttu.edu | Student Wellness Center 201
• Student Mental Health Community
  • 806.834.6717 |heather.frazier@ttu.edu | Weeks Hall 2nd floor
• Student Health Services
  • 806.742.2848 | studenthealthservices@ttuhsc.edu | 1003 Flint (Corner of Flint and Main)

References

American Psychological Association. (2018). Apa Dictionary of Psychology. American Psychological Association. 

CDC. (2020). Impairments due to sleep deprivation are similar to impairments due to alcohol intoxication. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Burnout: 5 signs and what to do about it. Cleveland Clinic.

Danzman, R. (2024). The Mid-Semester Slump: How To Not Lose Your Mind. Psychology Today. 

Gardenswartz, C. (2024). Dealing with academic burnout. Psychology Today. 

Gillis, K. (2023). 15 signs of Burnout. Psychology Today. 

Mathunjwa, M. L. (2024). Nutrition and academic success: Exploring the vital link for university students. American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research, 22(6), 769–778. https://doi.org/10.34297/ajbsr.2024.22.003013  

Olga Molina, D.S.W. (2025). How to deal with & prevent college burnout. Talkspace. 

Pisarik, C. T. (2009). Motivational orientation and burnout among undergraduate college students. College Student Journal,43(4), 1238–1252.  

Raypole, C. (2023, May 9). Dealing with burnout? These tips and strategies may help. Healthline. 

Sikowski, S. (2020). How to conquer the mid-Semester slump. Herzing University. 

Tian, Y., & Yang, S. (2024). The chain mediating effect of mindfulness and self-esteem in the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and academic burnout among college students.Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1–10. 

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