Most students strive to excel academically, but most often this is at the expense of their mental well-being. Stress to perform well academically, achieve deadlines, and accomplish multiple commitments adversely affects the mental well-being of students. But a balance between academic demands and mental health is important for sustained success and overall well-being.
Students, hence, are subjected to constant study pressure owing to the speedy atmosphere where they are more or less familiar, thereby affecting their psychological health. In Gems Public School, the Best CBSE School in Patiala, we do understand and know the proper means of balancing study. So, here is some guidance for students as to how to manage the challenges of academics and mental wellbeing. In this blog, we will discuss some examples of ways to support mental well-being while achieving academic success.
The Rising Challenge of Academic Pressure:
The contemporary education system gives intense importance to academic performance, with the result that students feel increased pressure. The demands of parents, teachers, and society can create feelings of inadequacy in a student, causing stress and anxiety. The fear of failure, the fear of not pleasing others, and the pressure to carry good grades can affect the mental well-being of a student, tending to cause burnout and exhaustion.
Performance Anxiety and Its Cost to Mental Well-being:
Performance anxiety is an oftentimes unseen partner of academic stress, compounding students' mental illness problems. The threat of public speaking, tests, and assessment can escalate anxiety, presenting itself in bodily symptoms such as headaches and sleep disruptions. Students will also cultivate cognitive distortions, including catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking, further augmenting their anxiety.
The cost to self-esteem, identity:
The constant comparison and unrealistic standards culture can have a profoundly negative impact on the self-esteem and identity of students. This external validation fixation can take away from the freedom of learning and individual growth.
Social Isolation and Mental Health:
The sheer demands of School life can lead to social isolation as students focus on their studies instead of socialising. This isolation can contribute to loneliness and worsen mental illness. In a world that is increasingly dependent on virtual relationships, the absence of rich social interactions may also add to the sense of disconnection.
Strategies for Nurturing Student Well-being at Gems Public School:
Recognise your limits
When you allow yourself to be vulnerable and break down some walls, you have shown great courage; however, on the academic side, making visible goals, as effective goal setting, must be acknowledged, is completely alright if things do go unplanned along the way. Having realistic and attainable goals is critical in coping with academic stress and maintaining good mental health.
Time management skills
This does not have to be retracted for long periods, but it lessens a student's ability to build up stress levels. Establish a study timetable to construct times for homework, study, and relaxation time(breaks) outside the course demands. Also, avoid cramming. Dividing your work into many bite-sized tasks will decrease stress. Good time management is essential for managing academic work and your sanity. Students can make use of planners, calendars, and time-blocking methods in order to plan, carve out dedicated time for studying and leisure, manage academic expectations, and to use in scheduling other activities.
Apply Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques
Mindfulness techniques like meditation or deep-breathing exercises ease stress. It complements relaxation and concentration, thereby making it simpler to handle academic assignments. Prioritising self-care is crucial in helping preserve mental health amidst academic pressures. Students need to find time to engage in activities that provide relaxation, including exercise, hobbies, meditation, and bonding with loved ones. Proper rest, proper diet, and proper breaks are also essential in maintaining energy and mental performance. By taking care of themselves, students can recharge their batteries and more effectively handle the demands of school.
Stay Active
Physical exercise is a fantastic stress reliever. Frequent exercise, such as walking, dancing, or playing a sport, really works magic. Exercise releases endorphins, which make you feel nice and enhance your mental state and overall health.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Healthy eating, adequate sleep, and hydration are essential elements that enable the brain to function well and maintain a balanced emotional state. One must consume wholesome food, maintain a regular sleeping schedule, and ingest enough volumes of water to remain healthy both physically and mentally.
Seek Support
It is important for students to understand when they require support and seek assistance when needed. Gems Public School usually offers assistance in the form of counselling services, peer support groups, and academic advisors who can provide advice and support. Speaking with trusted friends, family members, or mentors on class problems and personal issues can give important insight and assistance. Do not be afraid to seek assistance. Speaking with classmates or revealing your issues with teachers can offer useful clues and rejuvenate you.
Hobbies
Have quality time to spare with favourite hobbies and enjoyments outside of your studies- paint, play an instrument, or maybe garden- give this to yourself for both stress reduction and some rewarding enjoyment! Students should always have healthy coping strategies when academic or life circumstances occur, and as a student experiences academic challenges or setbacks, it becomes even more important to have and access healthy coping strategies to address stress and negative emotions. Participating in activities like journaling, creative expression, or mindfulness can assist students in processing their emotions and keeping things in perspective. Learning about resilience and a growth mindset can also help students overcome challenges and rebound from adversity.
Establishing Boundaries with Electronics
Even though electronics can assist scholars. Excess screen time causes stress, keeps the mind busy, and makes concentration hard. Placing restrictions on recreational screen use is necessary, and, sometimes, even controlling some "screen-free" time to recharge for studying and mental peace could be beneficial.
Learn to Say No
Being aware of overextending oneself is essential. During truly tough times, it is advisable to decline campus clubs or activities, thereby restructuring priorities for one's good. Let quality be your time commitment. Establishing boundaries, saying no to too many commitments, and resisting procrastination can also relieve stress and increase productivity.
Request Assistance on a Professional Level
If you do happen to be quite often overwhelmed, don't feel shy about calling for professional assistance. School counsellors and mental health professionals would be able to advise and provide support with an eye towards your circumstances.
Conclusion
Balancing intellectual challenge and mental well-being is a dilemma that many face, but it can be overcome with the proper strategies and support systems in place. By establishing realistic goals, taking care of oneself, obtaining help, getting things done on time, and creating healthy ways of coping, students can balance the requirements of school life while maintaining their mental health. In the end, a balance between academic achievement and mental well-being is needed to achieve long-term happiness, satisfaction, and success. Finally, we at Gems Public School believe that it is imperative to counsel our students not just academically but also psychologically. As one of Patiala's Top Schools, it is our responsibility to create an environment where the students feel cared for in both their academic and personal lives. By doing these things, students are able to develop a healthier balance that leads to success and happiness.
Comments
0 comment