As the spring semester reaches its halfway mark, students have felt the burnout and stressors accompanying things like midterms, an abundance of school work and balancing personal and academic life.
Randolph Brooks, assistant director for outreach at the Counseling Center, said these stressors have long-term effects on students.
“Many students aren’t able to get the self-care that [they] need, the rest that [they] need,” Brooks said. “[They are] burning the candle at both ends.”
Brooks emphasized that taking care of students’ bodies as well as minds during this break is important due to the physical and mental symptoms caused by mental health struggles.
“One primary symptom [of mental health issues] is just exhaustion,” Brooks said. “With our students who, you know, you’re 18 to 24, in that range, you typically don’t see exhaustion unless you’re burnt out.”
Kaylyn Poole, a fourth-year studying political science, echoed Brooks’ concerns regarding mental health by sharing her experience working as co-president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, on campus.
“A lot of what we do with NAMI is recognize that you’re not alone in this,” Poole said. “We might not be dealing with the exact same issues and problems and struggles, but we get where you’re coming from. We understand it.”
Poole said finding students’ own way to relax over spring break is key to unwinding. Relaxation and mental care looks different for everyone, and there is no one linear path.
Although one of the ways students unwind is by scrolling through social media, Poole said it can be very damaging for students during spring break because of the comparison it promotes.
“There’s always going to be that feeling of, ‘Oh, this person went and did this, and that’s better than what I’m experiencing for spring break,’” Poole said. “Understanding that everybody’s lives are so different, and as long as you are being fulfilled by your break, that is all that matters.”
Brooks expressed similar concerns regarding comparison over social media during the break.
“When are you starting to feel depressed because you’re watching social media?” Brooks said. “You’re scrolling for 15-20 minutes, you’re fine, and then all of a sudden you start to feel. Being able to pay attention to your body, that’s probably the most important thing for many of our students when it comes to spring break.”
Brooks said a way to combat these negative feelings and prioritize mental and physical health during spring break is to find a consistent schedule.
“Trying to eat around the same time, trying to go to sleep around the same time, staying off the social media as much as you can,” Brooks said. “Now that’s going to be hard, because, you know, let’s be honest. So it may be more effective to just pay attention to yourself.”
Poole said waiting for spring break can be stressful for many students. The long break is great until it’s time to come back and face reality, and students should give themselves grace in this transition period.
“Everybody needs their own things,” Poole said. “I think as long as you are doing whatever you need and not worrying about getting things done for other people or doing what other people want, just focusing on what will make you feel good, that’s the best thing that you can do for spring break or any break from school.”
Brooks and Poole said students are not alone during this transitional time.
“As difficult as things seem, as difficult as it looks around us, this is not the end of your story,” Brooks said. “[The counselors] know how difficult it is, and we are still here, providing whatever support we can, but just know students, that this is not the end for you.”
“You can feel very alone, but at the same time, like everybody else around you is having those same feelings,” Poole said. “This is something that all college students feel. We’re all kind of in a weird place in our life together.”
Students struggling with mental health or other related conditions can find resources available to them at the Counseling Center or can call (919)-515-2423 for immediate help.
