We’re already ¾ into the semester and the workload keeps piling up. Deadlines are appearing out of nowhere. Professors are assigning things and making them due on the same day that you have a major test, presentation, or another assignment that’s worth half of your grade. Academics is not the only thing that can get you stressed. There could be some relationship issues with family, friends, other loved ones, or even people that you see on a daily basis. There could be a falling out between you and a former friend, or someone could be pushing you to do something only for their own interest and disagreeing with you when you voice your opinion. Sometimes, outside factors are not the reason why you feel mentally drained. Sometimes, feeling drained just happens and you don’t know why. I get it… it’s too much to handle, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. All the things I mentioned has happened to me before, and I’m sure it has happened to many people as well.
Luckily, there are different ways that you can cope when you feel like you’re hanging on by a thread. Here are some things that may be helpful when going through a mental dilemma. Note: we all have different ways to cope!
- Taking a break and self-care!!!
I know this is the most common response that you would see when looking for ways to de-stress, but it really does help! Self-care does not only have to be outward beautification, but it can also mean various types of things (like watching a movie or cleaning your room).
- Find someone to spend time with/talk to
If a lot is on your mind, it’s probably best not to keep it to yourself or it can really deteriorate your mental health. When finding someone to talk to, make sure it’s someone you trust and will listen to you. KEY WORD: WILL LISTEN. Some people will claim to listen to you but either end up ignoring you or dismissing what you have to say. That person doesn’t have to give you answers if they don’t know what to say or how to express what they want to say, but it’s good to have someone just to be there and be a support.
- Find some ways manage time for yourself AND for your responsibilities.
I know I just said to take a break and self-care, but make sure you’re not skipping your responsibilities every 5 minutes because that can be confused with procrastination. This can especially apply for those who are in school and have many things due. It’s better to get those important things out of the way before taking that break or take a SMALL number of short breaks, specifically those assignments that you know your professor won’t change the deadline for. For example, if you finish your work early or if you finish a good portion of work, then you can reward yourself with self-care!
Again, we all have different ways to cope for our mental health so these may or may not be helpful. Remember, if you’re feeling down, make sure to take a step back and give yourself time to wind down and relax :)