senior fall burnout, 12 schools left and i literally cannot make myself write
not sure if this is the right flair but I need help. I have 12 schools on my list, 4 AP classes, and I work Saturday and Sunday. Every night I sit down to write supplements and just stare at the screen for an hour, then I give up, scroll my phone, and go to bed feeling worse. I've written maybe 3 supplements total and the deadlines are coming. It's not that I don't know what to write. I have ideas. I just can't start. My grades are slipping a little too, I got my first B on a test this year and freaked out, which I know is a ridiculous thing to freak out about. My parents think I'm just procrastinating. Maybe I am? But it doesn't feel like regular procrastinating. It feels like my brain is full. Some context on how bad it is: Sunday I opened the Northeastern supplement at 7pm and at 11pm I had written one sentence and deleted it. I cleaned my entire room instead. I don't even clean my room. The worst part is I know what I'd tell a friend in this situation. I'd tell them to just write a bad draft. I can't take my own advice. Every sentence I write I immediately think "an admissions officer would roll their eyes at this" and then I delete it. Does anyone have a system that actually works? Like an actual step by step thing, not "just believe in yourself." Also is 12 schools too many, should I cut some? Edit: a few people asked, the 12 are 3 UCs (one app), 2 Cal States, and 7 privates. So maybe it's more like 9 different sets of essays? Edit 2: thank you all, I wrote two supplements tonight using the timer thing. Small win