How to Balance School and Mental Health

As a VSN senior, I have had six years of experience navigating middle school and high school. Academics, extracurriculars, social circles, relationships -- I have seen everything. With so much compounded together, so much to experience in just 6 hours and 53 minutes, it is hard to keep track of everything. It is easy to let your mental health slip through the cracks. What is not easy is maintaining a healthy school-home balance, especially when you are at school more than you are at home. As someone who has struggled to maintain her mental health and is just now understanding what is healthy and what is not, here are some tips to survive high school and maintain your mental health.

1. Do not Procrastinate.                                      

In giving this advice, I am hypocritical. Hence, why I am passing it on now. Procrastination is one of the main reasons why school can seem more difficult than it is, mentally and otherwise. The stress of knowing you have work to be done but feeling too exhausted to work creates a cycle of procrastinating on an assignment, finishing at the last minute (if at all), then procrastinating even more. Give yourself some extrinsic motivation to get your work done, like ‘If I do my project now, I can buy myself that new game after’ or ‘Once I finish, I can play with my friends for a bit.’ Rewarding yourself after you finish rather than before pushes you to start. This requires discipline, but as you continue to develop this skill, it becomes much easier. 

2. Prepare 

From picking out your clothes the night before a new week to making flashcards to study for a test, even a little preparation before school makes the day feel much smoother. Tackling your workload piece by piece lessens the amount of schoolwork left at the end of the day, with minimal interference with any extracurriculars. 

3. Join an Extracurricular 

   
   

Although adding to your schedule might seem counterproductive to reducing stress, joining an extracurricular activity gives you something to look forward to outside of your scholarly schedule. Whether it be a club that meets once a month or a sport requiring everyday practice, extracurricular activities serve as a great way of improving your life. Developing a social circle with others who share your interests can boost your comfort level in and out of school. 

4. Do Your Research Early (Junior Year Specific) 

   
   

The first semester of Senior Year is the most stressful part of your high school career. You have about 3 months from when your senior starts to apply to your colleges of choice, and many colleges have supplemental essays – additional essays written to showcase further interest in a certain college or to emphasize parts of your application outside your personal statement- that are about the same length as your college essay. These supplemental essays become much easier to write when you have in-depth reasons for attending a specific college. Researching colleges by location, major/aspirations, extracurricular options, and class size adds specificity to your college applications, making you stand out from other generic applicants and putting you ahead of your peers. 

5. Take Breaks 

The most important aspect of caring for your mental health while excelling in school is knowing when to rest. Working continuously, without breaks, can lead to “burnout.” Burnout is characterized by extreme exhaustion and a distinct lack of motivation. To stop burnout before it starts, take breaks away from your work. Taking a 30-minute walk outside or setting aside a day to hang out with your friends are great ways to step away from your schoolwork. Your mental health should take precedence over schoolwork, especially if it is declining because of school.  

If you are ever struggling to balance your school life and mental health and feel overwhelmed, North has amazing guidance counselors who are eager to talk through your feelings with you and help. School can be stressful, but inserting some of these tips into your daily routine can help relieve stress and make school seem much less daunting.