this is a masterpost on how to deal with all of your schoolwork during a shitty mental health week. it is important to note that mental illness is a finnicky animal, and that not everyone has the same experiences as far as symptoms and adverse affects are concerned. however, these are all tips/resources that have worked well for me in the past, and i hope that there are at least a few that will work for you as well.
i. look at your schedule for the next day. rally all of your energy do all of the assignments and readings that absolutely must be done by tomorrow. disregard everything else. it can be done another day.
some portion of the stress will be lifted off your shoulders, and you will be able to relax a little bit and focus on things that are more important. If it can be delayed by 24 hours, it is not worth doing the night you are on the verge of a real crisis. i’m not advertising procrastination, but the reality is that we all do it. and i would argue that sometimes it is justified. if you are having a bad enough night where it takes all of your emotional and physical energy just to get through 30 pages of reading, you need to put nonessential things aside for a time when you are feeling more mentally available. your work will be higher quality if you do it this way.
showers (especially hot ones) will help clear your mind, open your sinuses, and relax your muscles. stand/sit under the spray until you feel less tense. even if you’ll be heading straight back to your room to work, you will be more relaxed and levelheaded to tackle the assignments in front of you.
iii. tackle your essential assignments in smaller chunks.
slow down your routine by a few minutes. study in 10-15 minute bursts instead of your usual 20-30. study in your room instead of the library. make a small change that could help boost your focus. however your study schedule may look, slowing everything down can help you accomplish your essential tasks without causing you to burn out before everything is done. it may seem impossible to slow down your already fast paced schedule, but trust me, even making small adjustments can do a lot of positive work.
iv. seek help and support from outside sources if you need it.
study with a group of friends or classmates if you are feeling up to it. this will help with your comprehension of the material, and might help boost your motivation to get through those essential assignments so you can go back to your room and wind down. call your family if that will help you feel better about where you are. if necessary, seek counseling/wellness services on your campus. this information is often posted somewhere on your university’s website. remember that there is absolutely no shame in seeking out therapy and counseling related services! there are also many online resources for mental health you can access as well, if in person counseling is not a viable option for you.
v. remember that you are not a bad student because this is happening. you are not a failure. this is not your fault.
mental illness sucks. it sucks all of your energy and motivation right out of your system. it is brutal. sometimes you will need to take a night off. let yourself do this without punishment. your mental health is important. repeat this mantra to yourself until you believe it. above all, remember that your feelings and struggles will always be valid. keep fighting, i believe in you!