Burned Out, Worn Out

Spring break to me, used to be a time of getting a week off of school, and staying at home doing nothing to recoup from mountains of work. Now, it’s not that different. I’ll still be at home resting from lots of work that I’ve done in the first half of the second semester. But in some ways, it feels different. I now have to book a flight home, get on a plane, adjust to being home, and then get right back on that plane coming back here, and where does food play into all of this? As a baking and pastry student, I’m in the kitchen four days a week, for twenty-four hours total. If I’m going be honest, I’m feeling a little burned out. While I love learning how different pre-ferments affect the outcomes of bread, and how to achieve that perfect shine on chocolate, I think I’m tired. Burned out. Worn out. Which leads me to wonder what I can do this spring break to help get me out of my funk.

One thing that's been on my mind is my family’s home cooking, and the places I love to go grab something delicious from. While dorm food is an experience, it’s not something I can say I crave. The food back home is able to appease my hunger, and remind me of why I fell in love with baking in the first place. Such as my mother’s homemade spaghetti and meatballs, or my grandma’s potato casserole. 

This includes the people as well. Whether I’m spending time with family or friends back home, I’m able to relax and be in the moment. While not having to worry about assignments that are due tomorrow, or getting ready to run to the kitchen. Spending time with these people leaves me feeling reenergized, and ready to come back to JWU to finish off the semester strong. 

While this will help, there’s always that high possibility that your family is going to want you to showcase your new skills within their kitchen. It’s hard to say no, but I think it’s essential to tell your family how you’re feeling. Being honest that you’re burned out, and would just like to relax this week off rather than bake, is totally okay.

So whether you’re feeling the same as I am, or the exact opposite, take some time to rest and come back even stronger to finish the semester. On that note, have a great spring break!