After spending several of my post high school years slowly slogging my way through the community college system, I finally transferred to CSU East Bay last fall.

I was excited. Thrilled to finally get the chance to study a subject of my choice, and determined to utilize the opportunity to the fullest. With the light at the end of the tunnel fueling a renewed passion and dedication for learning, I threw myself head first into school.

By this time last year, I had already acquired my textbooks and read them in preparation for the quarter ahead. I woke up at the crack of dawn to beat the traffic, using the extra time to do homework. In class, I devoted one hundred percent of my attention to the lessons at hand. I would come home from school every night and spent any free time I had reading and studying – even when all my homework was finished. In fact, all I did was read, read, read.

When the next quarter came around I decided to push myself even harder. I enrolled in 22 units and continued this pace for the next two quarters. I was intense and fanatical about school, and it seemed that my appetite for learning was insatiable.

At first, my dedication paid off. For the first time in my life I was excelling at school. For the first time in my life I achieved straight A’s. I had grandiose plans and I would let nothing get in my way.

I quit my job and moved home. I broke up with my girlfriend for demanding more of my time. I quit my band and stopped playing music. I never saw my friends. I never had fun. I was devoted to my goals and school was the only thing I desired.

Unfortunately, such radical devotion was unrealistic and unsustainable for me. Towards the end of spring, I began to slowly unravel.

I found myself caring less and less about subjects I had formerly been passionate about. I could not concentrate. My grades slowly went down as I devoted less and less time studying. I stopped working out and taking care of myself. I stayed up late watching TV and never slept more than five hours during the week. I would drink six cups of coffee every day and still felt tired. I slept through most of my weekends. As sugar and sweets became the staple of my diet, I gained weight. I became a terrible procrastinator, which increased my level of stress and lead to decreased quality in my work.

As my physical health declined, my mental health followed. I felt hopeless. Alone. I had no energy for anything. I was negative. Depressed. I lashed out at those around me, which made me feel even more isolated and unhappy. I was physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained, with nothing left to give. I was burnt out.

Defined in Merriam Webster as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration,” burnout is a very real danger for highly motivated college students who push themselves too hard without regard for their emotional and physical well-being.

Turns out, I unintentionally committed many of the classic blunders which, according to Debt-free Scholar, can lead to college burnout: a large course load, lack of sleep, no free time, no social interaction, impossible requirements, and pessimism.

I was so consumed by the desire to succeed that I forgot why I was trying in the first place. I was so focused on reaching the light at the end of the tunnel that I forgot to watch out for hazards along the way and tripped over a nasty pothole in my path.

I now know that while it is important for us students to take our education seriously, it is equally important to take time to relax and unwind; too much of anything can be a bad thing.

Learn from my experience and take heed of my words: the key to ultimate success in college is living a balanced lifestyle centered on realistic expectations and a positive mental attitude.