Tips and Strategies for Mental Health Management

It’s important to prioritize your well-being amidst the hustle and bustle of academic life. Your mental health matters. Whether you’re managing stress, or seeking support for ongoing mental health concerns, Carleton offers an array of supports and resources for you.

Establish a Structured Routine

Time Management: Use tools like planners, apps, or calendars to organize daily tasks and commitments.
Prioritize Rest: Ensure consistent sleep patterns and allocate time for relaxation.
Plan Ahead: Schedule meals, breaks, and downtime to maintain energy and balance throughout the day.

Develop Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Mindfulness Practices: To reduce stress, engage in meditation, yoga, or deep-breathing exercises. Explore wellness apps such as the MindShift app.
Breaks: Take short, regular breaks during study sessions to prevent burnout.
Campus Resources: Access counselling services or mental health workshops. Health and Counselling Services offer single-session counselling and a wide range of groups.

Build a Support Network

Social Connections: Join clubs, attend events through campus activities, or participate in group activities to build friendships.
Reach Out: Share struggles with trusted friends, family, or mentors. Drop by the Wellness Desk to connect with the navigators

Set Realistic Academic Goals

Celebrate Achievements: Reward yourself for completing milestones, no matter how small.

Create SMART Goals: Break tasks into specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound steps.

Combat Perfectionism: Focus on progress, not perfection, and accept that mistakes are part of learning. Emotions and thought patterns often get in the way of initiating a task. Fear of failure, of making mistakes, or not knowing where to start can lead to a freeze mode. Watch these clips to learn more about the cycle of procrastination: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_iMY7YgCg8