The Exam Season Habit That Left Me Burnt Out

Exam season is that time of year when stress runs high, to-do lists get longer, and sleep becomes more of a luxury than a necessity. I used to think that the more hours I put into studying, the better I’d do. So, I’d pack my days from morning to night with studying, re-watching lectures, cooking, cleaning, running from the library back home, and no matter how tired I am, finding myself at the gym. I was pushing myself to do as much as I possibly could. I set such high expectations for myself, thinking I could somehow defy the limitations of my time and energy. Which, to no one's surprise, I couldn't

What made it worse was what happened when the day was finally “over.” I would tell myself I was done working, but instead of going to bed, I’d find myself scrolling aimlessly on my phone, picking up a new and random hobby, or bingeing a show way past midnight. Not because I wasn’t tired—I was exhausted—but because I hadn’t made any time for myself during the day. That late-night leisure was my way of taking back control. Of reclaiming time for me.

This is called revenge bedtime procrastination—staying up late to do things you enjoy because you spent the entire day doing things you had to do. It’s this quiet form of self-sabotage that feels like self-care in the moment, but always ends up hurting you the next day.

For me, this became a vicious cycle during exam season. I wasn’t even studying well—just skimming topics rapidly to feel like I covered more. I sacrificed depth for volume. And by the time I put my brain to rest (well past when I should have), it wasn’t even functioning at full capacity anymore. No real rest, no real progress, just burnout slowly creeping in.

Here’s what I’ve learned—and what I try to remind myself of when exam season rolls around again:

1. Realistic Scheduling Is Not Lazy, It’s Smart

Instead of stuffing your day with an unrealistic number of study goals, pick a few key topics and go in-depth. Quality over quantity. When your goals are achievable, you actually get them done (and done properly at that) —and you don’t feel like you have to “make up for it” at night.

2. Build in Breaks for You

You shouldn’t have to wait until midnight to do something that brings you peace. Schedule short, intentional breaks throughout your day—a walk, a snack break, or perhaps reading a few chapters of a book that you want to read (your textbook doesn't count!) These small acts of self-care reduce the urge to reclaim your night.

3. Remind Yourself: Sleep Is Not a Waste of Time

We treat sleep like it’s optional, especially during exams, or really any stressful period. But your brain literally needs sleep to retain information, make connections, and perform under pressure. Studying until 2 a.m. and forgetting everything the next day doesn’t serve anyone, especially not your GPA.

4. Give Yourself Grace

Exam season is hard. You’re doing your best. If you slip into late-night revenge scrolling, don’t beat yourself up. Recognize the pattern, and gently bring yourself back. You’re not lazy or undisciplined—you’re just human, and you’re trying to feel like yourself in the middle of academic chaos.