Mental Health Tips for Online Students
Whether you have recently started studying online due to lockdown or by personal choice, it’s important to make time in your busy schedule to tend to your mental health. After all, we’re human beings, not doings. Here are 5 tips to keep on top of your wellbeing during online study:
1. Pace Yourself and Plan Ahead
The pressure to perform and compete can take its toll on students. By using a study planner like My Study Life you can plan your time and make your schedule easier to manage. Set yourself notifications about incomplete tasks, upcoming classes and exams and this will help put you in control of your studies.
2. Be Mindful
Mindfulness is about being present in the here and now without judgement for the past or future. Take time out to focus by using an app such as Headspace to help focus your mind on creating the space you need. If you’re unemployed, they’re currently offering a free year of Headspace Plus.
3. Try Aromatherapy
If you’re experiencing coursework deadline or exam related anxiety, there are a number of essential oils that can help you, including Ylang Ylang, Bergamot and Lavender. You can add a few drops to your bath water, spray some onto your pillow or apply them topically onto your skin. Always dilute essential oil with a carrier oil before applying to the skin and add to distilled or purified water before spraying.
4. Build a Support Network
It’s okay to feel not okay. Reaching out to others who are going through similar experiences provides you with a support network. And these people don’t have to be fellow students on your course. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your study and work life balance, sign up for an online Frazzled Café meeting. Ruby Wax’s excellent initiative will help you connect with like-minded people and share your experiences.
5. Reach Out For Help
It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re struggling if you can’t grasp a topic or struggle with some elements. We all have subjects we find a challenge to grasp. If you’re in need of some peer support, reach out to students across the UK on The Student Room Forum’s ‘Study Help’ section.
Remember to go easy on yourself. You’re embarking on an exciting new learning journey and this means that there will be highs and lows as you go along. By planning ahead and taking time out to look after yourself, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance of succeeding.
Vicky Chilton has contributed many educational articles to Oxford Home Schooling, covering a wide range of topics with relevance to number of academic subjects.
