Back to School: Mental Health Tips

Sharpen your pencils and grab your calculators—it’s that time of the year again: back to school! As we dive into a new academic year, the excitement of fresh starts and new challenges is in the air. But amidst the hustle of preparing for classes and setting goals, it’s crucial not to overlook your mental well-being. Balancing school, work, and personal life can be overwhelming, so taking care of your mental health should be a top priority.

For practical tips on managing stress and staying focused, check out the guide by wellness researcher Shubhi Gautam below. It’s packed with strategies to help you stay grounded and resilient throughout the year.

1. You Are Not Your Thoughts

We all have thoughts running through our minds every day, especially when we’re feeling stressed. Sometimes, these thoughts can be negative or overwhelming, making us feel anxious or uncertain. However, it’s important to remember that these thoughts do not define who we are. Just because you think something doesn’t mean it’s true or that you have to believe it. “You are not your thoughts” means that you have the power to observe your thoughts without letting them control you.

Click here for a simple, fun, and easy video to help you understand.

2. Brain Dump

Carrying all these thoughts in your head can be exhausting. Sometimes, there’s so much going on in your mind that you don’t even realize what you’re thinking about. In this next activity, your task is to write down EVERYTHING that’s popping up in your brain. Don’t worry about judging, fixing, or getting those thoughts down perfectly—just get them on paper. This is your personal list to see what your brain is thinking of. Jot them all down, no matter how random or scattered they may seem. Go crazy!

Examples of thoughts might include:

“I have a math test tomorrow, and I’m not ready.”

“I wonder what my friends are doing this weekend.”

“I need to finish my homework, but I’m so tired.”

“Why did that person say that to me in class today?”

“I’m worried about my grades.”

“I haven’t replied to that text yet.”

Just let it all out—this is your space to unload everything on your mind.

You can read the full blog here:
https://www.518elevated.org/back-to-school-prioritize-your-mental-health-with-tips-from-shubhi-gautam/