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MCC Daily Tribune

Finding Balance: Managing Academics and Mental Health in College

College can be a chaotic, tiring time. Juggling academics alongside focusing on wellness can seem as precarious as walking a tightrope as many students face immense pressure to succeed academically while also managing other responsibilities life throws at them. This can often result in neglecting self-care, which can consequently result in burnout, stress, and even more serious mental health issues that makes accomplishing initial goals of academic success more difficult. However, incorporating the following tips can help walking that tightrope a little easier:

  • Time Management: Managing your time efficiently is key to reducing stress. Developing a practical schedule – one that includes time for studying, attending classes, socializing, and relaxing – is key for finding a sustainable work-life balance. Prioritize tasks according to their importance and deadlines, and remember not to take on too much.
  • Engage in activities that give you energy: Most things in life either give us energy or take energy away. Things like school, work, commitments, or even just being a good friend when we don’t feel like it takes energy. If we do not make time for activities that give us energy we can begin to feel burnt out. Incorporating self-care practices into your routines can help prevent this feeling, and here’s the fun part: you get to define what self-care means to you. Hobbies, exercise, cooking a healthy meal, napping, socializing if you’re an extrovert, getting some alone time if you’re an introvert - even doing nothing at all can be examples of self-care. Make sure you’re taking time to engage in those activities that give you energy.
  • Journaling: Journaling is an often-unsung hero of coping with stress. Part of what makes talking about our problems so beneficial is it forces us to take intense, possible negative emotions and forces us to process them and put them into words. Journaling is the same practice, but can be done any time and with complete privacy. You may find that what feels like an imposing number of problems is actually only a few manageable problems once externalized and visualized on paper.
  • Set boundaries, and stick to them: Surround yourself with people who give you energy. If you often find yourself feeling drained after interacting with a particular friend, this can be a sign that the relationship may not be working for you. It’s okay to know your limits and respect your own boundaries!
  • Consult with mental health professionals at MCC’s Counseling Center: As always, all MCC students have access to free mental health counseling services with licensed professionals, accessible in person, on the phone, or via telehealth. Feel free to stop into the Counseling Center in Building 3, Room 103 or give us a call at (585) 292-2140 if you feel like talking and/or getting help problem solving can be of use to you.
  • Incorporating exercise, sleep, and good nutrition: Many assume that if they are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression to significant degrees that there must be something deeply wrong. And while this may be the case, it does not allow for a more holistic perspective. Replicated studies have shown: National Institute for Health (NIH) article on Exercise for Mental Health, the Journal of Psychiatric Nursing Health article on Exercise for Mental Health, and the NIH Journal of Medicine article on Sleep and Mental Health that taking care of the fundamentals of our physical health can be some of the most effective treatments for stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and even more severe forms of mental illness; while neglecting these aspects can lead to symptom reoccurrence or decompensation. It’s important not to neglect these simple aspects of proper exercise and sufficient sleep as they are foundational for overall wellness.

Students’ mental health is as important as their grades, because mental health plays an important role in achieving good grades. While the notion of sacrificing sleep and social activities for studying is often seen as a badge of honor, overlooking mental well-being can ultimately hinder academic progress. Just as a car needs regular maintenance to run smoothly, students’ minds also need proper rest in order prosper.

Matthew Pagani
Counseling Center & Disability Services
03/12/2024