Chances are, if you’re at LSE, you’re aiming pretty high in life. You don’t come to a school like this if you’re not trying to Be Someone. That might mean being a policymaker, that might mean being a CEO, it might mean making waves in more subtle ways – whatever form your ambition may take, Doing Something is high on the agenda. There’s nothing wrong with having goals and dreaming big…but where does that leave us in terms of our mental health?
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be familiar with the feeling of not being good enough. Trouble is, when you aim so high and expect so much of yourself, you’re often easily disappointed when you, a mere human being, don’t quite manage to be perfect. I am the self-professed Queen of Perfectionism. My brother genuinely thinks I’m bonkers; he doesn’t see why getting a 2.2 on an essay could possibly be a cause for a meltdown, and of course he’s absolutely right. One 2.2 is not going to hurt. Even four 2.2s is not going to ruin your life in the way we expect it will (most people, after all, don’t get firsts – and most people are totally fine). But even so, it can be really hard to keep this perspective when you want so much to Achieve. Naturally, this means that ambitious people are pretty vulnerable to feeling like failures; this can motivate us to try harder, or it can lead us into the shadow of mental illness.
This has been my big battle at LSE: how can I take care of myself without sacrificing my ambition altogether? I’m not saying I have all the answers for everyone, but I’ve found a few things that have helped me stay sane on my mission to Change the World. If you have anything to add to this list, please feel free to comment. LSE can be a really daunting place to be if you’re struggling, so the more strategies shared the merrier!
- Get enough sleep! The brain literally doesn’t function if it’s tired. Caffeine can give you a temporary boost, but the subsequent crash is likely to make you feel even more stressed and unable to cope. Contrary to what your teachers might say, napping is great for learning.
- EAT. Think of your brain like an engine: if you don’t put the fuel in, it’s not going to run. You are never “too busy” to feed yourself. What you eat and when you eat it has a tangible impact on your concentration and your mood. Never underestimate the wrath of an empty stomach!
- Treat yourself. Studying is always going to be mighty depressing if the only thing you’ve got on the horizon is more studying. Incentives are so important. See friends, take a bath, go for a run – whatever makes you feel good about you will help keep you from burning out.
- Talk to people. Can’t emphasise this one enough. No one is an island, my dears – we all need our support networks. You might feel like you’re bothering people with your silly worries, but nothing that makes you sad is silly and the people who care won’t feel bothered. Never feel ashamed to reach out.
Hi, may I know which course you are studying? Thanks for the tips.
Hi Sandy! I’m an undergrad studying International Relations 🙂
Hi! I am wondering if you can relate to this (to a certain extent): I have been in several depressions because I did not achieve the goals I had set for school. It is very hard for me to stay motivated and positive after a streak of “failures”, and during those depressions I more or less secluded myself in my room. If you can relate to this, or have experienced something similar, how did you pick yourself up again?
Hi there, thank you for your message – I can definitely relate and I’m sorry to hear you’ve found things tough. It can be really hard when you set yourself a very high standard and you “fall short” (even though imperfection is completely human and nothing to be ashamed of). What helps me when I feel like this is to remind myself I deserve compassion. And then I make sure I drive this message home by doing nice things for myself: watching a film, meeting with friends, going for coffee. If i don’t feel up to leaving the house, I make sure I call a friend or my family, to make sure I’m not isolating myself. The best advice I was ever given is to “fake it til you make it” – even if you feel like a failure, and going out and doing things feels absolutely impossible, sometimes pretending you’re ok with it can bring wonderful results, and unexpectedly you might have fun.
If you feel you need some professional support (no shame in that, I’ve reached out for help myself in the past), a good first point of contact is usually your GP. If your GP isn’t someone you can imagine talking to, there are numerous helplines such as Samaritans, and counselling services including LSE’s own wellbeing service. Even if you’re not sure external support will benefit you, you don’t lose anything by investigating, and it could be really helpful with managing those feelings of depression and disappointment.
Thank you very much for your reply, I have gained much insight from it.
You’re welcome, hope it helps! All the best 🙂