No one really considers the possible implications if any of the impact of studying online to one's mental health. As we get older we realize that nothing is more important than protecting our peace and sanity. We all know that a sound mind often translates into a sound body but we often forget that when we become online students. At times it can be overwhelming spending so much time on the computer, not to mention distracting. Emotional distress has the tendency to compromise academic performance which can also lead to behavioral problems. It is therefore important that we prioritize our mental well-being in order to remain in a state of good health.
The Mental State of Online Students
Too often we find ourselves randomly logging in to find out if a grade had been posted just yet or to see our peer reviews. This is anxiety whether we want to believe it or not.
Of course there is that feeling and need to triple check to see if your research paper was submitted, even though you had double checked 2 days ago.
One of the worst things too that occurs is putting a whole lot of effort into a paper only to not make the grade.
If you generally lack focus, studying online might be increasingly difficult for you as even a simple advertisement could lead you astray.
Some of us have to deal with the isolation associated with being an online student. There is no one to interact with face to face to share ideas with.
One of the most difficult things too is being unable to sleep because the paper that you wrote is on your mind, repeating itself and keeping you awake. It is annoying and stressful because you cannot simply turn your mind off.
Disagreeing with a classmate or your instructors opinion can cause internal conflicts.
Underperforming and taking on too many courses at once can lead to serious depression.
Feeling like you are unprepared for an exam even though you have spent an enormous amount of time preparing can lead to panic attacks.
Becoming more irritable than usual because you have a paper due by the end of Wednesday is no reason to be curt, manipulative or inappropriate towards others.
Skipping meals is not a good way to deal with stress. Too often students are faced with issues financing their tuition and find themselves in a state of worry that it starts impacting their physical health as well.
Confusion about how to navigate the online platform or just bridging the gap between sitting a classroom and self-study.
When you wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning and the first thing on your mind is the assignment you submitted or the one that is due, you just might need emotional separation.
When we take a lot of the above into consideration being careful quickly turns into borderline paranoia. Which can easily lead to anxiety, mood disorders, panic attacks or depression.
How I Protected My Mental Health
Taking breaks from writing research papers when I needed. This also helps with refreshing your brain so that you can write better and protecting your vision. Go have a laugh or fix yourself a healthy lunch.
When studying online started to feel isolating, I would often pose my research questions to those around me even if they had no experience on the matter. You would be surprised how much you can teach and even learn.
I ensured that I got my social media fix out of the way before I logged on to do school work. Yes, sometimes you can give yourself 30 minutes of social media, break then log on to do your work.
Knowing and believing that I am an intelligent human being besides what others might think. Yes, you have to be grounded in your cause and purpose. A strong mental foundation comes from having heard that you are not enough and then proving that you are. It also comes from committing to your goal and making a realistic plan to achieve it.
How You can Protect Yours
Achieve balance. This is much sought after but very attainable. Understand when it is time to say no and listen to your body. How can you achieve balance when there is so much to be done? Prepare early and prepare well. Excellent time management means not only allotting enough time to get all your tasks done but time to rejuvenate. Always remember that you need to refuel because that allows you to better tackle future tasks.
Develop a tough skin and cultural sensitivity.
Understanding that in order to not become unnecessarily emotional and stressed, you have to do some of the ground work. Yes, this means actually reading your course outlines, learning your student online platform and making a degree plan. This all can be done in one day in a few short hours. This eliminates the issue of digital divide and helps you to manage your courses for a better outcome.
Practice mindfulness. I cannot stress this enough. No pun intended. Focusing on here and now helps you to stay in control of the things you can change and slow down your thought process. This will help to keep your mind from pondering about the paper you submitted 3 days ago so that you can actually rest.
Be realistic. There is no way you're going to finish all of your reading assignments in one day, plus your research papers and journal entry. Do not set yourself up for failure or a burnout. You may regret that when you see your grade at the end of the week. In previous blogs I have discussed how to set realistic time-frames for your assignments.
Meditation and breaks. It is necessary to take breaks, play some games or set aside a day when you do nothing related to school. For some people this might seem a bit intense but at times it is necessary to completely separate yourself from the things that are causing unhealthy habits until you learn how to deal with them in a healthy way. If that means an entire day or weekend of doing activities unrelated to school then that is what you must do.
When it comes on to mental health, we are all in some way responsible since everything we do has either a positive or negative impact on others. You are not in this alone.
If you feel overwhelmed there are a lot of telehealth services available online. You may even speak to a friend/family, student advisor or your course instructor. Form a group with the aim of helping others to cope with studying online and day to challenges that are impacting their studies. There is a growing need for mental health counseling for those pursuing higher education. Your school should ensure that there is information on the school website so that student's who encounter mental health problems can receive the proper help they need, whether self-help, counseling or mental health awareness/education.
Thanks for reading. Check out my previous blog. Also feel free to check out my books. Interested in sharing your experience on my blog? Contact me here and I will submit your article.
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