Surviving School with Depression
Hey guys! So I’ve had depression since around middle school and now i’m a sophomore in college. I thought I would try to write some tips since I’ve been able to still do pretty well in school despite having depression. Now disclaimer, everyone’s depression is different and this is just what works for me.
1. Do as much work at once as possible
You might think is a weird tip but for me, my motivation and mood fluctuate A LOT! I have times where I am super motivated and can stay focused and get several assignments done. Then there are other times when I don’t do any work all day. This makes it all kind of even out. When I get really focused, I just keep doing work for as long as that feeling lasts.
2. Try different environments
The library is a really good one. The quiet can help some people focus and can be good. Also if you have a desk, that can be a good place. Play around with different elements: lighting, music, time of day. It may take some time but finding the ideal time and place for you to work can really help in productivity.
3. Plan and do work in advance
At the beginning of the semester, I went through all my syllabi and wrote a to-do list for each week. This was super helpful to be able to look ahead and see when everything was due/which weeks had more work than others. For me, all of my syllabi had the due dates for the entire semester included which made this easy to compile. I created a note on my phone with a checklist for each week. I also color coded each class so I could easily distinguish these (I’ll show this in a future post once the new semester starts!) I also made daily to-do list that broke down bigger tasks into smaller ones. Honestly, to-do lists are your best friend!
It’s important to not be too hard on yourself. You’re human! Everyone can’t be at their best all the time. There are good days and bad days. If you can’t focus on your work, try doing something else for a while like watching netflix, listening to music, whatever you like to do. Anything to distract your mind from bad thoughts can help improve your mood. Writing and coloring help for me sometimes too. It’s okay if you don’t get any work done all day as long as you’re taking care of yourself. This is something I’ve learned over the years and lately has been helpful. Find coping mechanisms that work for you. Just don’t be too hard on yourself.
Similar to #4, recognize when you’re doing good. Did you get your homework done? Get that reading done? Start that essay? Reward yourself! That can be anything from a cookie, a face mask, an episode of that show you’ve been watching, anything! Celebrating the small victories is important when even the most menial tasks can be difficult.
Your mental health should come first above all. I don’t want to get too personal but I left the first college I went to after the first semester in order to take time to get better since I was in a bad place. I decided not to go back and that’s totally fine. Every college is different and if you realize the place you’re at is not the right fit, you can transfer. It’s not the end of the world! (btw if anyone wants to talk about transferring/taking time off i’m here) Leaving definitely made my mental health improve, some schools are honestly just toxic.
If any other depressed or neurodivergent peeps need some help feel free to message me any time!
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