Good Mental Health in School

It’s almost a full month into the school year, and five week grades are getting even closer. For most of us, the beginning of the year is an extremely important time to set a standard for the rest of the school year, and hopefully find a nice rhythm in our classes. But it also can be very unstable. A lot is happening in these first few months, and keeping up in school while also preserving your mental health and preventing yourself from working too hard and burning out can be difficult. If you want to make sure that the 25-26 school year goes smoothly for you, try to follow these tips to help prioritize your mental health without setting aside your goals, or vice versa. 

1. Take mental health days when you can. This tip can be criticized a lot, and that’s understandable. If you’re already stressed about schoolwork, taking a day off and letting even more stack up isn’t going to help, right? And sometimes your parents won’t let you take off, or you don’t have the time or the place. But please, if you can, take breaks. If you are able to take a day off, use it. School is stressful, and working yourself to death won’t make it any easier. Rest, eat something good for you, do something you enjoy, and then take a look at your schoolwork again once you feel better. 

2. Ask for help. Talk to your teachers. Most can be very understanding when you are straightforward about needing help and guidance, and they want you to do well. If asking a teacher is difficult, look for a friend, or someone friendly, that you know and that would be willing to work with you. Ask someone else in your life to assist. It’s cheesy, yes, and asking for help has varying results for everyone, but it really is helpful. 

3. Know your limits. You may think that it’s impressive that your schedule is full and your classes are difficult, and it can be. But taking on too much is harmful, and knowing how much you can handle is a skill you can use everywhere in your life. 

4. Make sleep a priority. Your entire week can be ruined by one night without sleep, and the amount of harm you can do to your mental and physical health when you aren’t sleeping as long as you should be every night is way worse than you may think. If its one in the morning and you still haven’t finished that note sheet, staying up even later won’t help you remember it. Go to sleep. Try again in the morning, if you can. It’s okay to recognize that you aren’t able to complete something at the moment. 

5. Be kind to yourself. Yes, it’s cringy, but it’s true. Try to remember that you’re human, and you aren’t perfect. Everyone messes up, gets frustrated, and slips up. Recognize when you need help and remember that your health is more important than anything else.