Going to a foreign country to study can sometimes be a draining experience and put pressure on the mind. Here are 5 mental health tips for students studying abroad.
As the international education industry begins to recover from the pandemic, many students have been able to return to their schools and start their life abroad, and their international student experience is slowly returning to its usual pace.
The pandemic completely transformed the international students’ procedures, process and deadlines during the application process and in-person classes as well. Homesickness, transitional stress and the regular stress that comes along with school were all pronounced during Covid-19.
There is, thus, an acute need for students studying abroad to take good care of their well-being in the present times.
Below are some helpful tips to keep in mind to take care of your mental health while studying abroad:
1. Meditation and mindfulness
It is inherently important for students to safeguard their mental health to be able to complete the semester successfully. Keeping the mind calm amidst work pressure and deadlines can prove to be a daunting task.
Did you know that mindfulness and meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety?
A tranquil mind will enable a student to be more concentrated and productive throughout their day, thereby making the tedious tasks that are characteristic of a student’s life easier to manage.
2. Start a journal
Journaling is a popularly recommended, long-standing practice used to clear and quiet the mind. Jotting down one’s thoughts and feelings can help reduce the frequency and intensity of bouts of anxiety, pent-up emotions and frustrations.
The basic principle behind the practice is that, by allowing the thoughts and emotions of a person to surface, it clears the pressure of the mind.
Students can rely on journaling to get over any frustrations and anxieties.
3. Go for regular movement and exercise
One overlooked significance of daily exercise is its positive impact on a person’s mental health. Physical movement can play a big role in improving your mood since it helps to ‘shake off’ the negative emotions and offers a boost of energy.
It doesn’t have to be complex! A good habit to take on can be as simple as taking thirty minutes a day to do a physical activity you enjoy like yoga, jogging, biking or walking.
4. Build a local support system
Choosing to study abroad is a truly courageous thing to do. Students are leaving everything that they know. Building a local support system in their new community is key to strengthening one’s mental health for the long term.
So many destination countries and local communities are truly welcoming. Schools also have dozens of clubs to choose from, with many having international student specific clubs.
Students should also seek to support outside of their peer group too with professors, mentors and co-workers at part-time jobs. Community can truly strengthen mental health from day one.
5. Seek help
It is common for students to sometimes feel misunderstood or overwhelmed, especially in a stress-inducing environment. Asking for help is the first and perhaps the most important step on the path to finding relief.
There are also a lot of digital resources online that can help you with your mental health journey.
Apps like Calm and Headspace are designed to help aid mindfulness and grounding. These resources can significantly help alleviate your mental health state through new daily rituals that you can add to your everyday routine.
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It’s important for students to prioritize looking after their mental health and taking steps to ensure their optimal mental well-being.
Students should take advantage of any services colleges and universities are offering in order to cope with the stresses of the pandemic and unique challenges.
