Achieving excellence in your education is an important factor in preparing for your future in the best way possible. However, that should not cause you a mental breakdown because of the pressure and stresses that comes with your academic journey. It is important to constantly be aware of your mental health; as it depreciates, your marks, motivation and drive all go down with it. Therefore, it is crucial to know the steps that you need to take to cope and eventually overcome that stress. These are a few tips that can help you do just that:
- Learn to take breaks during your studies as an overload of information without recess can overwhelm the mind. Take a walk, watch an episode of your favourite show or even take a nap; just don’t congest yourself with your education. Too much of anything isn’t good for you.
- In correlation with the first tip, have free days during the course of the week. It might seem careless but it benefits your body and mind when you distance yourself from stress inducing factors for a sufficient amount of time.
- Apply a reward system while you work. Whether you get to eat a treat, read a chapter of your favourite novel or just rest, you will find that associating positive reinforcements to your education will make it less daunting.
- Exercise, enough and healthy foods go a long way to keeping your mind clear and focused. Your energy levels will be boosted and you will be less likely to feel overworked or tied down by your school work
- You may find yourself overwhelmed because there is no clear schedule or direction you are following while you are working. A to do list will help you budget your time and energy accordingly and allow you to feel control over your tasks.
- Recognize when you need help. Do not overwork yourself while drowning in your academics because you are afraid of asking for help. Help can be a friend you can study with or a tutor to help make your work easier to tackle. Having someone as a support system lightens the load you feel burdened with.
You should definitely prioritise your studies but that does not outweigh your mental health. Do not ignore the signs of academic stress because the stress will grow until it breaks you. Some of the signs you need to look out for that indicate academic stress include:
- Feeling discouraged
- Lack of confidence in your work
- Changing and sporadic sleep patterns
- Struggling to concentrate
- Anxiety and irritability about anything school related
This is by no means a diagnosis of a mental condition. Rather, it is a sign that your mind needs rest and a reboot before you can get back to your 100% self. As you secure your future by working hard in your education, take care of your mind because it is one of your greatest treasures.