On 10th October 2022 we will be celebrating World Mental Health Day, and this year the theme is to make mental health everyone’s number one priority. Unfortunately, for many of us, our mental health often takes a back seat in our day to day lives, in much the same way as our physical health can. When you’re worrying about getting to school on time, completing that coursework, studying for exams and generally trying to cope with teenage life it’s easy to see why. The reality is the vast majority of us take our mental health for granted – if we feel OK, then everything’s fine. It’s only when things start to go wrong, we feel stressed, overwhelmed and “down”, that we may realise there’s an issue.
Did you know that around 75% of adults had their first episode of mental health illness before they reached the age of 25? For many of those, they were students at the time. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just started High School, are studying for your GCSEs, A Levels or have just embarked on your University career – being a student can be a very challenging and emotionally charged period of your life.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’re likely to face, and how can you try to handle them calmly? Here at Tutorspot we’ve put together some ideas to keep you focussed.
If you’ve just moved to a new school, college or University, then you’re going to be faced with the opportunity to meet lots of new people. This might be fellow students or new teachers; all of which can be exciting, but also a little overwhelming.
They key thing to remember is that, over time, you will get used to all the changes you’re experiencing. Take it slow, and don’t force yourself too far out of your comfort zone. Try not to hide away if you’re feeling anxious, but equally don’t get press-ganged into joining every after-school group, club or society.
Transitioning to the next stage of your educational journey often means a step up in pressure. Lessons are likely to cover more complex topics and in far more detail than you’ve done before. Deadlines may be shorter and the knowledge you’re meant to display may be more in depth. If you’re working towards specific qualifications, the pressure really will feel like it’s mounting when it comes to your performance.
The good news is there are lots of things you can do to help yourself feel more in control of the situation. Take the time to speak to your teacher and ask them if there are any areas in their subject you should perhaps spend more time concentrating on. It’s really easy for students to get themselves into a mindset where they believe they’re terrible at every aspect of a subject, especially if that subject’s maths or one of the sciences. However, in the vast majority of cases, it really is just one small area that you could do with some extra help on. If you nail that, then you may find you’re able to make a lot of progress very quickly.
Once you do know what you should be working on, it might be worth considering working with a tutor online. Whether it’s an A Level tutor or a GCSE tutor, they will be able to work with you and help you direct your studies according to your own goals. It could be a case that you want to better understand a specific concept, or are struggling to answer particular types of questions. Perhaps you just want to enhance your writing skills, or need to practice mock exams and speed up your answering of questions. It doesn’t matter what your own individual strengths or challenges. If you are studying maths and science for example, your online science tutor , online maths tutor, online biology tutor or physics and maths tutors will be able to tailor sessions to suit and support you.
For many students, the primary problem with their studies is a lack of confidence, rather than a specific lack of knowledge or understanding. Unfortunately, in a class environment it can be challenging, whether through lack of time or concerns of peer reactions to ask questions. Teachers don’t always have the time to follow-up after classes either. However, with a private online tutor, you can take all the time you need to ensure you ask all the questions you want to get the knowledge you need. If you are struggling with GCSE Chemistry or Physics, then some chemistry GCSE tuition or online science tuition with an online physics tutor could really help you. With increased confidence, you’re bound to absolutely shine.
The older you get, the more demands are likely to be placed on your time. It may be that you play for your school’s football or cricket team. Perhaps you have a part time job at the weekends, or need to help look after a member of your family. Whatever the situation, it can be difficult trying to balance everything, which in turn can lead to fears of failure and anxiety about being overstretched.
When it comes to your studies, the most important thing you can do is break everything down into bite sized chunks. If you know you have an essay deadline in five weeks, it’s vital not to leave it to the night before to start writing it. Instead, schedule time in week one to research the topic, and ensure you have all the information you need. You can then spend weeks two and three drafting your various points and arguments. Week four can be spent actually writing the entire piece, whist week five can be used to review what you’ve written and ensure everything is covered properly.
Leaving things to last minute, whether that’s coursework or revision for exams, will only lead to increased stressed. Whilst stress is not a mental health problem in itself, it can easily lead to anxiety and depression – so should always be avoided where possible.
Remember, if you’re looking for help with your studies, then our online personal tutors may be just the solution to your problem. Email us today at info@tutorspot.co.uk or give us a call or text on 07480637128.
