All of us have been there—the burden of the next exam, the pile of tasks that never seems to end, the expectations. For many students, education is not just a process of learning but a process of searching and becoming. However, this path can be a really thin line between academic achievement and mental health.
Stress in school can be attributed to a number of causes. Family, social pressure, and the growing pressure to get into the best college also play a part in pushing students to perform well academically. Internal pressures, which stem from a student’s drive to succeed and perfectionism, only add to the problem. Fortunately, this is not entirely true, and students are not completely helpless in this case. Here are some key strategies:
Prioritisation and Organisation: Staying busy and never having a chance to take a break because of the never-ending list of things to do could be more productive. It is suggested that developing the study schedule, identifying priorities, and setting realistic goals can help decrease the level of anxiety.
Time Management: Time management is one of the most important things that one must learn. Understanding the most productive hours in a day and setting time for study can enable students to do more within less time, hence lessening the pressure of the ticking clock.
Building a Support System: It is always helpful to talk to someone close to you or a school counsellor so that you can release tension and gain a different perspective on the problem.
Healthy Habits: The health of the body should be preserved at all times. Proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep can greatly improve the quality of life and the functioning of the brain.
Mindfulness Techniques: Meditation and deep breathing exercises assist students in being conscious of their feelings and finding constructive ways of controlling stress and anxiety.
Positive Self-Talk: One can change negative thoughts to positive ones to increase self-confidence and self-acceptance. Perceiving threats as opportunities to develop resilience is more helpful than perceiving threats as threats.
A Journey of Learning, Not Scoring!
Parents and educators play significant roles in the moulding of children and ensuring that they embrace a positive attitude towards emotions as well as academic achievements. Education is a wonderful adventure, and it should not be reduced to an unrelenting quest for scores. The pressure that comes with academic achievement can be well handled. A student’s welfare is of utmost importance because it is the cornerstone to success in both academic and personal life.
The author is an emotional intelligence and personality development coach.