Did you know that 1 in 4 people are affected by mental disorders? (Whether that be anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc.) That’s a pretty high number and mental health is quickly becoming one of the leading contributors to disability and ill-health worldwide – which is why I wanted to create this new series on my blog called “Mental Health Mondays”. I’ve had this idea since April 2016 and am not just starting to really move forward with it (definitely not taking credit for it/this idea/term, but would like to discuss mental health on my blog since I am an individual with an anxiety disorder, I thought the Mental Health Mondays has a good sound to it, and it’s a great way to start off your week in the right direction since some posts will be about self care + how to overcome mental health).
School is stressful, life is stressful, combine the two – and you probably have quite the struggle trying to juggle both, especially if either are interfering with your mental health.
Here are my tips to juggle school & your mental health, while trying to keep your sanity!
1.) Your mental health is more important.
During 6th grade, I was bullied a lot. The bullying was pretty bad that I avoided school quite frequently, telling my mom that I was sick and that I didn’t want to go to school – avoiding all of this school almost left me with a failing grade, and you know what? I would have much rather taken that bad grade than having to go to class and have my dignity stripped from me and my emotions toyed with. Bottom line: you come first in your life and so does your mental health – I’m definitely not trying to tell you to skip school all the time, but if you need to take a mental health day from school or work, do it. You will feel much better and refreshed to have time to yourself.
2.) A grade is just a grade.
I think that this is one of the most important things to remember while in school – a grade is just a grade, and a course is always able to be retaken if necessary. I don’t think that getting an A is worth stressing about, while it may be awesome to get that high of a grade – if it’s going to cost you your sanity, you don’t need to strive to get that high of a grade. A C is average (which is good) and I feel like most people forget that. Do the best that you can and don’t let idea of acing every test and assignment get to you.
3.) Taking breaks is okay.
If you are unable to juggle your mental health and your education (or other life events), I personally think that it’s okay to take a break from whatever you are unable to handle. You need to focus on yourself in order to start to feel better and if that means putting something else on hold, that’s what you need to do. Others should understand and support your decision and if they don’t, I suggest trying to explain your situation to them and have them look at it from your perspective.
4.) If you think you need to get help, get help.
Not everyone is able to cope on their own and if you’re struggling, I suggest seeking medical help, whether that be counseling or going the medication route – obviously with the recommendation from a doctor (go with what you feel comfortable with). Surround yourself with friends who understand what you’re going through and those who are supportive.
I’m not a professional, so please do take this post with a grain of salt because these are my opinions and experiences! I hope you enjoyed the post.
Thanks for reading, as always <3
Xoxo, Rae
This is such a great and useful blog post 🙂
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