When you ask most people how students can improve their grades, you get one answer: studying. But there is another way to improve grades, and most students would welcome it. Prioritizing mental health may be the key to better grades. And it’s easier to do than you might think.

How are grades and mental health connected?

Although you might not realize it, your grades and mental health link together. When you have poor mental health, your grades suffer. Meanwhile, great mental health can boost your grades. There are a few reasons for the strong connection.

For one, stress can destroy your academic career. And stress comes from poor mental health. Many students of all ages find themselves dealing with tight deadlines and piles of paperwork. The thought of taking on one more assignment is stressful, to say the least. With more stress weighing you down, performing well can be difficult. Stress eats away at you and wears you down. As a result, it causes fatigue. When you find yourself fatigued, you can’t finish your work to the best of your ability. Your grades may suffer.

Stress also makes it more difficult to learn. When you sit in class and listen to a lecture, you may find it hard to focus. Once again, this can lead to poor grades. But stress isn’t the only culprit.

While stress is a challenge in itself, there are other mental health issues at play. Depression and anxiety can greatly affect your performance at school. In an NYU study, 22.5% of students stated that anxiety hurt them academically. And a whopping 55% of them said that emotional or mental difficulties damaged their academic performance at least one day in a given month.

Depression is another culprit. In the same study, 59% of students at NYU claimed that the symptoms of depression made it challenging to do schoolwork, get along with people, or be responsible at home. Mental illness interferes with your life in a way that makes it impossible to get things done. As a result, all areas of your life may suffer. When you can’t find the energy or will to study, you can’t perform. Some students find themselves too depressed to make it to class. Mental illness keeps them from succeeding. Prioritizing mental health lets you tackle your problems. Then, you can start to improve academically.

How can prioritizing mental health improve your performance?

While it’s true that poor mental health can hurt your academic performance, the opposite is also true. Good mental health may be what you need to boost your performance. When you take care of yourself, great things start to happen. You may find excitement in new things, or have a newfound desire to succeed. The only side effects of great mental health are beneficial ones.

When you have good mental health, you can focus better. Your stress levels are low and focusing on one thing isn’t a challenge. Your stress-free body is able to take in everything that it hears. When doubts and fear aren’t in the back of your mind, learning becomes easier.

Throughout the day, your body uses something called executive functions. These functions include your working memory and planning. If you have good mental health, your executive functions can work well. You can plan out your work better and execute your assignments on time. A better working memory means that you can learn things the first time around. All of this translates to one thing – better academic performance.

 

How can you improve your mental health?

Prioritizing mental health is the first step towards improving your mental health. Before you pull another all-nighter, ask yourself if it’s worth it. Is there a way you can get your work done without destroying your body and mind? Put your mental health first and know your own limits.

But it takes more than putting your mental health first. You need to learn how to improve your mental health. Here are a few ways to get you started:

1. Sleep

One of the easiest ways to start is to get enough sleep. Without sleep, your body and mind can’t function. Try to get as much sleep each night as you can. In the morning, you should find yourself refreshed and ready to take on the day.

2. Find a stress-buster

Another way to boost your mental health is to learn how to cope with your stress. For some people, exercise does the trick. Others find relief in a walk through nature. Figure out what it takes for you to handle stress. Then, be sure t make enough time to do it.

3. Set realistic goals

As a student, you may ask a lot of yourself. Often, people set unrealistic goals. Attaining them is almost impossible, and the failure may make you devalue yourself. To improve your mental health, set realistic goals. Reaching your goals gives you a sense of accomplishment. It improves your self-worth and leaves you ready to take on new challenges.

4. Seek professional help

Finally, get help if you need it. If you’re prioritizing mental health, you may need help. Sometimes, you need help from a professional. While many people hesitate to go to therapists and psychologists, you may need one. Getting professional help isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it may be exactly what you need. People who suffer from issues like depression and anxiety can’t always fix them on their own. It takes a little help to work on those issues. If you’re willing to get help, you can get great results.

There are plenty of resources available to students who need a little help. If you’re too nervous to see a professional, start by checking out some Facebook Groups for people who suffer from the same issues. Or, look for local support groups. When you’re ready to speak to a professional, get the help that you need. It won’t only help you improve your grades. It can also help you improve your quality of life. And that is invaluable.