Balancing Studies and Self-Care: Tips for Student Well-Being

In today's demanding academic environment, students often grapple with the pressure to excel. Balancing studies with self-care is crucial for maintaining mental well-being. This article explores strategies and techniques to help students at uni thrive academically while prioritising their student wellbeing & mental health.

Creating a Balanced Routine

A well-structured routine can help students manage their time effectively and reduce stress. Here are some tips for creating a balanced routine to enhance wellbeing for students:

Prioritise Tasks

Identifying and prioritising tasks can help students focus on what is most important. Using tools like to-do lists and planners can aid in organising tasks and managing time efficiently, thereby supporting student wellbeing. This applies to all fields of study, from nursing to massage therapy school.

Students should establish short and long-term goals, reducing these to daily tasks that can be completed. This will help in scheduling related to the study, and not only this, but it also gives a vision or goal.

At NC State University, the Academic Success Center stresses that to help you grow academically and personally. It is essential for your goals to be easily predicted for your student wellbeing.

Another proven way to prioritise your tasks is using the Eisenhower matrix, where different quadrants are formed based on the urgency and importance of each task.

Do First

Urgent tasks. Such tasks require urgent attention and can incur significant penalties if left incomplete. These important tasks can help ensure you hit your deadlines and don't fall through on promises.

Schedule for Later–Less Urgent

Tasks that you consider essential but do not need immediate attention. So you can schedule them for a later calendar date. Most of these are deliberate activities that lead to long-term goals and personal growth. So they do not have a pressing deadline.

Then, by scheduling these tasks, they can set aside time to work on them without the shadow of impending doom.

Delegate

Tasks that are urgent but aren't necessary. While they may need to move through concrete learning fast, none of these tasks require the student's skill set.

However, outsourcing to an annotated bibliography writing service Essayltd, can enable students to free up some precious hours which they could use for other more beneficial activities that are conducive to their future.

Eliminate (Delete)

Those tasks are not urgent or essential. Delete or put them off later when you have fewer items to finish. Often, these duties end up eating our time and energy in a way that takes heat from the more valuable parts of life.

By discerning and cutting out these obligations from the list of things they need to do, students can simplify their pursuit for the purpose that makes it all worthwhile.

This matrix allows students to dedicate their time and attention to the most important tasks (eliminating overwhelm). Moreover it helps them with better time management, which is pivotal for their wellbeing.

Schedule Breaks

Greater proficiency in mastering time has the potential to lead students into less stressful lives. It also put them on a course toward considerably increased productivity and much-needed breaks for self-care. Thus, it contributes significantly to student wellbeing.

Taking regular breaks is essential for maintaining productivity and mental well-being. Short breaks during study sessions can help in refreshing the mind and preventing burnout and enhance student wellbeing.

Set Realistic Goals

Setting achievable goals can boost motivation and reduce stress. It is the essence to have time management at your best, thus improving wellbeing for students.

Studying requires sheer discipline, which means, especially in the beginning, it can get overwhelming. As a result, it affects your health because time is everything.

A study by Arizona State University showed that 87.6% of college students were feeling overwhelmed as a result of their responsibilities. While this number is high, it represents the large percentage of people who require ways to manage time effectively for their student wellbeing.

Breaking down uni large tasks into smaller, manageable steps can make them less overwhelming and contribute to overall student mental health.

Utilising Student Wellbeing Support Services

Universities and colleges often provide student support services that include counseling, workshops, and peer support groups. These resources are designed to offer professional guidance and create a supportive environment where students can thrive.

They offer various support services designed to assist students in managing their academic and personal lives effectively, thereby fostering student wellbeing.

Arizona State University, for instance, offers wellness coaches who can help tailor a plan for you based on things like stress reduction or healthy eating/ weight loss tips and even guide some time management strategies to promote student wellbeing.

By continually sifting through these resources, students at uni can learn how to utilise approaches toward positive forms of self-care and safeguard their mental health.

While there are campus resources, they can also use professional services for certain academic tasks. For example, when a student is flooded with assignments, online do my math homework for me service may come to help where they can more effectively manage their time and reduce stress in crucial academic periods to maintain their student wellbeing.

Students often face stress, a natural response to academic pressures, social dynamics, or personal challenges that can affect their student wellbeing.

A Penn State survey revealed over a third of college students struggle with significant depression and anxiety, emphasizing the need for effective stress reduction techniques. So, let's explore strategies to balance study and wellbeing.

Incorporating Self-Care into Study Routines

The most important thing that can meaningfully help with any level of mental wellness is self-care, especially during times like exams. Adding self-care to study routines can allow students to rest and concentrate.

Maintaining healthy study-life balance is important; the last thing you want to do is cram for your next assignment or test while struggling with college life.

Students should spend time exercising and practicing relaxing and socializing. It creates a balanced environment in the house, which helps rewire our brains & leads to enhanced productivity and a positive outlook.

Self-Care Techniques for Student Wellbeing

Self-care is essential for maintaining mental well-being. It involves taking deliberate actions to care for your physical, emotional, and mental health. Here are some effective self-care techniques for students:

Acupressure and Reflexology

Acupressure and reflexology are alternative therapies that can help reduce stress and improve mental well-being. These techniques involve applying pressure to specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote relaxation.

Acupressure Points for Stress Relief

• Yintang (Third Eye Point): Located between the eyebrows, this point can help alleviate stress and anxiety when gently pressed for a few minutes.

• Shen Men (Spirit Gate): Found on the inner wrist crease, this point is effective in reducing anxiety and promoting emotional balance.

Reflexology Points for Mental Clarity

• Brain Reflex Point: Located on the tips of the toes, stimulating this point can enhance mental clarity and focus.

• Solar Plexus Reflex Point: Found in the center of the foot, this point helps in relieving stress and promoting a sense of calm.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation are powerful tools for managing stress and improving mental well-being. Regular practice can help students stay focused, reduce anxiety, and enhance emotional resilience.

Moreover, recent research in many fields has shown that regular mindfulness practice leads to less stress and a high level of concentration, resulting in improved academic performance.

Some of the most common mindfulness Techniques are:

• Body Scan Meditation: This involves focusing on different parts of the body and observing any sensations without judgment. It can help in releasing tension and promoting relaxation.

• Breathing Exercises: Deep breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing, can help calm the mind and reduce stress levels.

• Mindfullness Colouring: A creative and enjoyable way to practice mindfulness.

Physical Activity

Sports and mental health go hand-in-hand. Engaging in regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining student wellbeing. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. It also helps in reducing stress and anxiety. Therefore, all students should include 30 minutes of physical activity in their daily schedule.

Recommended Activities

• Yoga: Yoga combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation, making it an excellent practice for stress reduction and mental clarity.

• Aerobic Exercise: Running, swimming, or cycling can boost mood and improve overall mental well-being.

Healthy Eating Habits

Proper nutrition is key to mental well-being. The priority of students should be to eat a well-balanced diet, with fruit, vegetables, and whole grains making up the majority.

Eating healthily makes sleeping easier, retaining cognitive function, and keeping energy levels up for academic responsibilities.

Read our 8 tips for healthy eating for a successful new start.

Prioritizing Student Mental Wellbeing During Exams

Some students may feel more stressed than usual when they have exams. You need to know the types of indications like stress, for example;

• Irritability

• Fatigue

• Difficulty concentrating

If students at uni are familiar with these signs, they can get ahead of their mental health issues and take the necessary steps to address them.

Whether you're preparing for a major exam like the NCLEX exam or navigating the nursing school application process, prioritizing self-care is essential. Incorporate regular breaks and relaxation techniques into your study schedule to maintain focus, reduce stress, and enhance your overall well-being.

To fully prepare and avoid studying the whole night, students should study consistently over time while getting enough sleep.

It is recommended that students use the 8-8-8 formula — eight hours for study, eight hours on work or classes (in case of regular school), and then sleep for another eight hours.

Students should also not be afraid to seek help from classmates, faculty members, or mental health professionals when they feel swamped.

Counseling centers and support groups at most universities can offer resources to help work through stress and anxiety.

Conclusion

Balancing studies and self-care is crucial for maintaining student mental wellbeing and achieving academic success. By utilizing uni mental health resources, practicing self-care techniques, and creating a balanced routine, students can navigate the challenges of academic life with resilience and confidence.

Remember, mental health is just as important as academic performance at uni. Taking the time to care for your mental well-being is an investment in your future success.