10 tips for maintaining mental health in the pre-university period

Another alarming situation is that illness from psychological illnesses, such as anxiety disorders and depression, has considerably grown among young people and adults. And the preparation for the entrance exam might be one of the most stressful times in the life of a student.

This is because, in addition to the competition inherent to the selection process, the amount of material covered in the exam brings together all the knowledge absorbed during the school day, and performance in the test will define the possibility of entering the undergraduate course and, subsequently, the desired profession.

Find out how mental health care can be important allies for those facing these challenges.

1. Be generous with yourself

Preparing for the entrance exam is a difficult endeavor. It demands attention, discipline, and decision-making in ways that most students have not yet encountered.

So be generous with yourself. Understand that you are in the learning process, especially during the pandemic, which requires changes in the way you study. Patience and self-care are important to welcome yourself on this journey.

2. Adapt to your goal

Planning is a term that students should get familiar with. After all, all preparation for attending a higher education school consists of building on what you already know and learning the information required to pass the chosen test.

It is critical to know your assets and shortcomings and what you should figure out how to arrive at the necessary degree of information. In view of this determination and how much time you have, draw up an arrangement that suits your goal.

3. Respect your personal rhythm

The pre-university exam journey can be long, depending on the course and institution you wish to enter. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that this is a challenge that may require more time than a less daring goal or even than other people who have chosen the same course.

The rule of thumb is not to employ a 100 meter race pace if your journey is a marathon. More important than speed is constancy.

4. Create goals for the short, medium and long term

Goals are great allies, as they tell you whether learning is adequate or whether adjustments need to be made in the way study is organized. Therefore, have goals for the short, medium and long term.

An example of a short-term goal is weekly essays to train this skill and know where your mistakes and successes are. In addition, having review moments every fortnight and practicing performance using simulations every two months are ways to examine yourself.

6. Keep up with your sleep

Sleep is fundamental: it is during the night that the brain performs a series of operations necessary for its proper functioning and important for learning.

Studying late one day or another can be a good idea, as long as it is an exception. Sleeping well is part of the quality of your studies.

7. Do physical exercise

Everyone knows how to shun a sedentary lifestyle in favor of good physical health. Rarely do people think that physical activity is equally good for the mind.

Exercise hormones that make the body feel good after a session are endorphins. Keeping the body in motion therefore guarantees quality of life and good mental health, which augurs well with study.

8. Have leisure time

Netflix, video games or a musical instrument: no matter what your hobbies are , the essential thing is to have time to invest in them. Playing, for example, is a relaxation and creation activity that is good for mental health.

9. Don’t isolate yourself

Another tip to remember is the following: as studying requires individual work, there is a tendency towards isolation. This also occurs because people around the entrance exam, no matter how empathetic they try to be, may have no idea what this universe means and the renunciations it requires.

Therefore, be careful to create bonds with other people who go through the same challenges as you and can exchange experiences. If you are not enrolled in a course, it is worth looking for online communities that bring together college students.

10. Consider therapy

You may have already realized that balancing so many issues is not an easy task. Therefore, listen to your feelings and, if you feel that your suffering is more severe than usual, consider psychotherapy.

The psychologist is a professional prepared for professional and qualified listening and will certainly help you in this challenging phase. Remember that the entrance exam does not measure your knowledge, but your ability to develop it during the test. And, for this, it is essential not to let anxiety take over.