How to Maintain Good Mental Health as a Star Student

Summer break is nearly over, and with a new school year on the horizon, we want to ensure you know how to care for yourself when the course loads start to outweigh your free time. School can be immensely stressful, particularly for star students dedicated to graduating at the top of their class and making it to the Ivy League. 

Trying to balance multiple AP classes and test preparation with extracurricular activities and the maintenance of a healthy social life is a juggling act that even the most well-rounded students find challenging at best. It’s natural to drop a ball or two in the midst of it all, but all too often, mental health is one of the first casualties of a stressed-out student. This, of course, leads to a decline in energy, concentration, GPA, and overall academic performance.

Depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are pretty common among teens. More than 16 percent of American youth aged 12 to 17 reported experiencing a depressive episode in the past year, and according to the World Health Organization, “one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds [globally] experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13 percent of the global burden of disease in this age group.” The numbers become even more startling when we factor in race, sexuality, the presence of disabilities, or exposure to stressful socioeconomic factors like poverty or abuse at home.

Adolescence is a transformative time for us all, but the habits you form during these intense physical, emotional, and social changes tend to stick with you as you enter college and adulthood. So, it’s essential to start learning some strategies for maintaining good mental health in the face of stress now so you can avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms later.

How to Preserve Good Mental Health in School

First, remember to zoom out and check your perspective when things become overwhelming. As a student, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of high school life that you forget that you aren’t saving lives with your good grades. It’s great to have high expectations of yourself, and we love to see students who strive to do their best. But self-development happens over the course of a lifetime. It’s a journey, not a destination you reach by age 18. 

The stakes may be high–we know you dream of getting into MIT or graduating summa cum laude–but they’re not so high that you have to pressure yourself until you’re sick with stress. While we encourage you to give it your all and challenge yourself to achieve your loftiest academic goals, we don’t want you to lose sight of the fact that getting a good night’s sleep won’t make you fail that test. In fact, being well-rested improves your odds of getting a higher grade. 

So, check your perspective every once in a while. You’re a great student, and excellence is an achievable goal. Life is long, and you are young. It’s okay just to breathe.

Second, managing your time is not enough. You have to respect it. This doesn’t mean filling every minute of your free time with study and research–that would just lead to burnout, which is counterproductive. We also won’t tell you how to make a schedule; Scholar Launch students already know how to do that. However, you should respect yourself enough to dedicate a few uninterrupted hours every day to your academic goals. This requires self-discipline, which many teens struggle with, but it’s a trait worth honing.

Respecting your time also extends beyond setting aside dedicated work hours. You’re still a human being, and you need leisure time to recharge. Respect your need for play and relaxation. Even our most hardworking students can afford a movie night with friends every once in a while. This will go a long way toward preserving your mental health amid the academic storm.

Lastly, have grace for yourself. Be kind when you’re having a hard time. There’s no need to shame yourself out of stress by demanding 100 percent on a 40 percent day. You won’t be your best self 24/7, and it’s essential to have patience with the ups and downs of high school life. Think about it this way: if you had a child who was going through tough times, would you shout at and berate them until their performance improved? Or would you soothe and nurture them, allowing them to feel how they feel and rest when they need to? Much of maintaining good mental health throughout the school year and throughout life is just parenting yourself and honoring your needs when they arise.

We want you to be successful, of course, and to excel in your research programs. But we know how challenging extracurricular research can be, and we always appreciate students’ proactive communication when they’re struggling. Our dedicated education team is trained to support students at every point in their journey and we’re here to help. Your school counselors are also an excellent resource whenever you need them. 

We’re always thrilled when our alums email us excitedly with news of acceptance into their dream universities. However, it’s crucial to prioritize self-care just as much as you do academic performance on the road to college. No academic achievement is worth your sanity.