Topic Hubs
Many parts of everyday life can affect your mental health, such as school, relationships, and social media. This page explores some of these common challenges and offers practical strategies to help you navigate them in healthy ways.
School, Stress, and Burnout
It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed with expectations right now: grades, extracurriculars, planning for the future, maintaining your social life. But the truth is that though it is good to be academically motivated, your worth is not defined by a GPA or test score.
Stress vs. Burn Out
These pressures can create a lot of stress. Stress is a temporary reaction to a challenge, like an upcoming exam. While stress is a normal part of life, unmanaged long-term stress can become exhausting and lead to burnout (a state of physical/mental/emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress).
Common signs of burnout include:
Emotional exhaustion: feeling drained, numb, irritable, or easily overwhelmed.
Lack of motivation: struggling to start tasks, losing interest in activities you usually enjoy, or feeling unmotivated.
Physical symptoms: frequent headaches, stomachaches, trouble sleeping, or feeling tired even after getting enough rest.
Everyone feels stressed occasionally, but burnout is a sign that you may need more rest and support. If these feelings last for a long time or begin to interfere with your daily life, talking to a trusted adult, school counselor, or healthcare professional can help.
Relieving Stress
It's important to remember that you do not need to have the next 10 years of your life planned out. Instead, focus on the next step, whether that's finishing homework, preparing for a test, or completing a task on your to-do list. Taking things one step at a time can make big goals feel much more manageable.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by everything you need to do, try the "Rule of 3": choose 3 important tasks to focus on each day. Completing those priorities can help you make progress without feeling like you have to do everything at once.
There is truly no "one-size fits all" approach to managing stress. Everyone is different, and coping strategies that work well for one person may not work as well for someone else. The key is to find healthy habits that help you feel calmer, more balanced, and better able to handle life's challenges.
Relationships
Relationships can provide support and connection, but they can also be a source of stress. While friendships/relationships are extremely important, it's equally important to recognize when someone is negatively impacting your well-being. Learning how to build healthy relationships, set boundaries, and protect your own peace can help you create stronger, more positive connections with the people around you.
Relationship Checklist
Healthy relationships should be supportive, respectful, and authentic. If you're wondering whether a relationship is having a positive or negative impact on your well-being, it can help to look for these signs:
Green Flags:
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They celebrate your wins and accomplishments.
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They respect your right to say "no."
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You can be your authentic self around them.
Red Flags:
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They only text you when they need a favor.
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They use guilt trips to get their way.
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They talk negatively about you behind your back.
Setting Boundaries
Setting a boundary isn't mean- it's a way of showing others how to treat you with respect. If you need to say no but aren't sure how, these quick templates can help:
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"I really want to hang out, but my battery is really low today. Let’s definitely do something later though!"
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"I’m not really comfortable with that. Let's do [alternative option] instead."
It's Okay to Drift
As people grow up, they change. Sometimes people grow in different directions- and that's okay! If a friendship is naturally fading, it doesn't mean something went wrong. It just means you are evolving.
Digital Wellness and Social Pressure
While social media is great for connecting with others, it's also designed to trap your attention. This often comes at the expense of your mental health. However, you don't have to delete your apps to protect your mental wellbeing; you just need to change how you use them.
Highlight Reels vs. Reality
Never compare your behind-the-scenes life to someone else's highlight reel. People only post their best lighting, their best angles, and their happiest moments. It’s a curated portfolio, not real life.
Take the 20-Minute Scroll Test
Before you open an app like Instagram or TikTok, check in with yourself. On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you feel right now? Scroll for 20 minutes, then ask yourself the same question. If your mood dropped, your feed might be draining you.
Fix Your Feed
Social media isn't inherently bad, but the algorithms behind it can sometimes work against us. By reshaping your feed and being mindful of how you engage with it, you can build a healthier relationship with social media.
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Algorithm Audit: Go through your following list. If an account makes you feel insecure, anxious, or "less-than," hit unfollow or mute. Your feed should inspire you, not depress you.
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FOMO → JOMO: Turn the Fear of Missing Out into the Joy of Missing Out. Use the time you would have spent online to do something that you love: listen to music, bake, go for a walk, or play a game.