Mental health is a term that generation Z has heard a lot about but the question is how much do we actually take care of our own mental health. In a constant pressure-cooker environment such as college where being caffeinated and sleep deprived is seen as a gateway to college life, it is difficult to honor your mental health. This is especially a problem with many students who are hoping to go to graduate or professional school after college. Many students that belong to this particular group have shown increased rates of stress, depression, anxiety, and face the brink of burnout. In this blog post, I will be sharing some strategies that can help you prioritize mental health if you are finding that you align with anything that is aforementioned.
My biggest piece of advice is to keep a planner, whether that be a google calendar or a physical planner. The primary goal of this is to identify areas that you are spending time in, whether that is an academic subject, an RSO, or perhaps a research opportunity. It is important to examine where your energy and efforts are going and how that endeavor is contributing to your long-term success. Especially among students trying to go to graduate and professional programs, it can be common to try to overstretch yourself by trying to do everything. Try to manage your time in ways that do not overburden yourself. Additionally, use the planner as a time management tool as time management is the number one preventative measure for stress and anxiety. Stress generally arises in our lives when we feel that our efforts are not meeting the requirements. Thus, when we stay on top of things, we are much more likely to stay calm. Lastly, in this planner, be sure to block time for downtime and engage in activities you like whether that be chilling with friends, taking a walk, or watching Netflix.
The second piece of advice is to establish a support system as soon as you can, whether that’s your family, sibling, friend group, professor, or even an advisor. The pre-professional path is one that has many ups and downs and it's important to identify a minimum of at least one point person for when things get tough. If you can, try to have mental health check-ins with this person once a week. This might be as simple as asking about each other’s week. A support system alleviates the built-up stress and also your emotions to be shared versus bottled up. Another perspective is to surround yourself with positive people that build you up versus tear you down. Take a second to reflect on who you associate with and how they directly or indirectly better you in an academic, professional, or social aspect.
The last piece of advice is to get moving during the day and try a self-care activity. There has been a lot of talk about yoga, meditation, journaling, and positive affirmations. While there are many fans of such, there are also many people who are opposed to it. I suggest that you try a self-care activity that appeals to you and try to be consistent with it. For me, this activity is going to the gym a few times a week whether I feel like it or not. Sometimes I might find myself very engaged in an intense lifting workout while other days it might be as simple as allowing myself to stretch. Try to do something that brings you joy and gets you closer to where you want to be.
All in all, it’s important to be academically ambitious and to want to push yourself but at the same time taking care of your mental health indirectly impacts your academic success. If you take care of your mind and body, your mind and body will take care of you, and you will find yourself to be much more content, fulfilled, and motivated. Graduate and pre-professional schools are important no doubt but take a moment to reflect if they are as important as the cost of your mental health and well-being!
