ZOE ROGERS / OPINION EDITOR

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of  The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

As students, we are continuously bombarded with assignments and deadlines. For us, balancing academics and mental health is crucial, though the task is much easier said than done. The expectation that we balance these elements of our lives can sometimes feel impossible. Taking mental health days is an essential way to prevent mental burnout, but it can be hard to fit a day off in our busy schedules. Professors need to account for our mental stability by providing mental health days for their students within their syllabus. 

My struggle with balancing academics started in high school. As my assignments began to rack up, I couldn’t quite figure out how to balance academics, sports, my social life and time for myself all at once. My weekday schedule became a repeating cycle that I  felt I couldn’t escape. Wake up, practice, school, practice, homework, sleep and then do it all again the next day- every day. I couldn’t see a way out of the continuous loop I found myself in. 

Not wanting to burn out, I decided to take a mental health day for myself. I felt like I was moments away from running out of energy and was close to breaking. Taking this day off allowed me to step back, organize myself and restore the energy that I felt I was missing. 

Taking time for yourself when you feel like you’re sinking can help exponentially. In an article published by McLean Hospital, Andrew M. Kuller, PsyD, provides insight on the key signifiers of when someone should take a mental day off. 

“If you’re feeling stressed out and drifting away from a healthy set of behaviors, those are things you could think about and try to rectify by taking a mental health day,” Kuller said. 

Many of USD’s undergraduates feel that school can  sometimes be overwhelming. Especially when you have an assignment on top of assignment and no room to breathe. Feeling like you’re drowning is a common characteristic  for  many  students and it is not discussed enough.

Academic validation is something that I seek continuously. I often fear that if I don’t get the grades I desire, worse consequences will come than a bad grade. Seeking this constant validation can be damaging on numerous fronts. The urge to feel successful in academics can lead to the suffocating mindset of having no room for error. 

It’s easy  to be  hard on yourself about academics. When you  feel like  balancing  academics and life outside of school is nearly impossible, taking a mental health day can be a beneficial method of combating these overwhelming emotions. 

Canyon Creek Behavioral Health, a hospital focused on mental health, explains why taking a mental health day off is beneficial, especially for students. 

“Mental health days are meant to provide a break from the stress and demands of daily life, help prevent burnout and improve overall mental well-being,” Canyon Creek Behavioral Health stated. “One of the main benefits of taking a mental health day is the reduction of stress and anxiety. Adolescents are constantly on the go and juggling multiple responsibilities. They are expected to achieve the highest grades and become involved in extracurricular activities while also dealing with the effects of adolescence and the pressures of growing up. As a result, they often experience high levels of stress and anxiety.”

It’s easy to feel stressed or burnt out when you have too many assignments. Photo courtesy of @Tim Gouw/ Unsplash

Because students face heavy academic  loads,  are  given  limited time to complete assignments and often are under a lot of stress or pressure, professors need to incorporate mental health days into their course syllabus. Professors claim to be aware of our stressed emotions and suffocating environment, yet sometimes it feels like they do nothing to truly help us. So, by granting us the liberty of taking mental health days during the semester, even just one or two, our professors can prove that they are here for us. 

While mental health is important, some believe we should not rely on our professors to assist us in our mental health journey. We should deal with it ourselves. In some instances, this perspective can be correct. However, because our professors control our workload and academic environment, they should help fight the stress they incorporate into our lives by providing at least one day off. Because they give us days of work, the least they could do is give us 24 hours off.  

Academics are essential. While they can be validating, they can also be damaging to students. In a time when mental health has become a topic of awareness, professors need to take action by providing us with at least one day   off for  our  mental health. We all deal with stress differently, but  granting us the opportunity in the semester to combat burnout is one of the most beneficial ways to save our mental health. 

Take a walk on the beach to clear your mind. Photo courtesy of Shannen Swars/ The USD Vista