We Asked, You Answered: Mental Health

By: Emily Hamill

So Super Awesome

The irksome sound of an alarm clock ringing. Morning sunlight peeking through the blinds. The reluctant roll out of bed and groggy rub at the eyes. As a student, all of these school-morning feelings should feel all too familiar; but, looking specifically at this year, there were many new and strange changes to not just school-morning routines but the school itself. Instead of grabbing their backpacks to head to school, the vast majority of students around the world grabbed their laptops. Instead of saying the trademark “here” in class to signify their attendance, they logged into Zoom meetings. And instead of directly asking their teacher a question, they were forced to send chats or venture the dreaded unmute option. As an obvious result of this, there was a dramatic upsurge in students’ mental health problems, with many enduring higher levels of anxiety and depression, which led to higher levels of stress and lack of motivation. Clearly, the issues of school-related mental health were extremely relevant this year, especially with the massive disconnect between peers; subsequently, many students felt alone and confused as to how to deal. Therefore, in honor of last month being National Mental Health Awareness Month, we at Human Central reached out through our Instagram with polls and Q&A’s regarding how people maintained good mental health during their finals weeks, or simply how they dealt with stress during the school year.

First, we asked the default question: What are you doing for your mental health during finals week?

While many students claimed relaxation methods such as meditation or bubble baths helped them survive their finals week, a significant number of others made a surprising assertion. “Working out... I found out it actually really helps me destress,” one student remarked, while another stated that “exercising often and listening to music” helped them feel motivated. On the other hand, several students endorsed indulging in sleeping and taking breaks, but assured they did so with “time management” and “trying not to procrastinate.” Others felt that “going on nature walks while listening to music” was highly refreshing for their mind amidst all of the stress. Similarly, several students claimed that “drawing and journaling” or simply “finding time to be creative” also helped them to clear their minds and boost their productivity. Although a few candidly expressed that a good cry was a part of their survival routine, it was widely understood that as long as one puts forth their best effort, it will all be over quickly, and “everything will be alright.”

Next, we did some would you rather polls -- and found some interesting results.

When asked if they would rather take a break from studying through a bubble bath and music or watching comfort shows, 77% overwhelmingly chose the latter, while only 23% chose the first option.

When asked if they would rather have a study session with a Zoom study group or solo time with the infamous Quizlet flashcards, the majority, 75%, chose the latter, while only 25% opted for the first.

When asked if they would rather try a mindfulness method through meditation or journaling, 41% argued for the first option while 59% argued for the second.

And finally, when asked if they were feeling nervous or confident for finals, an overwhelming majority of 81% expressed they were anxious while only 48% felt certain of their success.

Despite the fact that most students this year clearly felt anxiety and uneasiness in preparation for their final exams, we asked for words of advice and measurement to help ease these tensions and create calming academic habits for next year. “Just breathe! Everything will be okay! I have to tell myself that 24/7,” wrote one student, while another emphasized the importance of breaks, arguing “there is such a thing as over-studying!” Likewise, many students pointed out that it’s important to remember that “grades aren’t everything” and that “it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get an A.” Others mentioned clever mental habits and methods, such as rewarding oneself after finishing a test, whether it be “ordering food in from your favorite restaurant” or simply taking time for oneself to rest. Another ingenious tip was to “try to romanticize studying” through things like “a good playlist, perfect lighting, and maybe a snack or drink!” Overall, though, most claimed the incredible importance of taking time to rest, explaining that it “is just as important as studying because your body needs a break to function.”

No matter the outcome of your grades this school year or the next, remember that just getting through the last year was an obstacle in itself, what with the many challenges of distance learning and living through a global pandemic. And if you ever feel alone in your struggles with mental health, just remember that there are so many others out there who have been feeling the same way. But as long as you take a sip of self-care juice every once in a while, everything will be alright in the end.

Written by: Emily Hamill

Website: Human Central

Published: Juley 28 2021