Depression is a common disorder these days. In the United States alone, there are 16.2 million adults or 6.7 percent of people who had at least one depressive episode. There’s no indicator where depression can strike, or how severe it can be. It can be chronic or one-time occurring. More importantly, it is also common in young people, especially students.
With the busy life that students lead and the demanding education these days, it’s not uncommon for a student to develop symptoms like reduced interest, lack of appetite, insomnia, irritability, lack of energy, etc. These are all symptoms of depression and are prompted by too much stress, bad events in someone’s life, and worries about finances, grades, etc.
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When one experiences symptoms of depression, the best solution is adequate, medical help. Still, at times, people feel depressed because they are tired, unmotivated or simply sad. There are certain things that you can do to reduce the chances of depressive episodes and boost your mood.
Here are seven excellent tips for college and university students.
Find Motivation in Different Places
Lack of motivation is a common issue in the lives of students. Many young people are unable to finish their tasks because they lack the motivation or desire to do so. They are struggling with fear of failure, lack some self-confidence, or are too overwhelmed.
Thankfully, there are some strategies and tips that can help boost your motivation and make you more productive. If you want to become more productive, take some time off. Do what you always wanted to do. Try a new hobby, spend some time having fun with friends, or simply relax and don’t think about school for some time.
Read Free Essay Samples to Learn More about Depression
Learning how to cope with depression and reading other people’s motivational stories can aid you in understanding what you are going through. If you want to beat those negative thoughts and feelings, you should get all the information you can about depression in your arsenal. Reading some free essay samples on students’ perceptions about depression and mental illness will help you realize how common this is and find ways to beat it.
Set Smaller, More Manageable Goals
It’s natural to feel unmotivated and depressed when you see a huge pile of homework and essay tasks on your desk. The pressure is big and deadlines only add to it. If you want to eliminate depression from your life, start with the source – your academic burden.
There’s no reason why you should spend sleepless nights trying to find your way around your assignments or the study material. Organize your time better – proper organization will allow you to get things done in time, without a rush.
Change Your Point of View
Some self-encouragement and self-compassion never hurt anyone. Give yourself more credit and stop berating yourself for a lower grade or a task you couldn’t do. Positive thinking can change your life drastically. At this point of life, you need to understand that life comes with failures. You also need to understand that at some point, you might need a bit of a push, a helping hand to get things done.
Create a Routine
Routines help a lot when you are depressed – and in general, too. Make a healthy routine for yourself. Get out of bed in the morning, go for a brisk walk to get some air, get some exercise, eat healthily, and study at the same time every day.
Ask for Help
No one can do everything on their own. The sooner you understand that, the better. Just like you need some help with your tasks, so do your peers. That’s where study groups and mentors come. Whenever you need assistance, join a group or ask someone to help you. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or professional, don’t hesitate to get some help. If your depression is causing you trouble, the first thing to have is a support system.
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Explore Different Styles of Studying
Many things can make you more productive and motivated to study. Change your study pace, study style, or even the place where you usually sit down to do your assignments. When things get dull, change the scenery a bit.
Final Thoughts
Depression is a thing that needs to be taken seriously. You need to make some changes in your life, but if you find yourself struggling with chronic depression or feel unmotivated and stressed too often, do more than practicing self-help techniques. Ask for professional help.
Author’s Bio:
Michael Turner is a child psychologist who’s spent the past decade working in his private office in Washington. On several occasions, he appeared as a motivational speaker at conferences. In addition to assisting his patients, Michael also contributes useful content and tips on several blogs and sites online.
Main Photo by Jonas Svidras on Unsplash
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
