We are in the midst of a Missouri winter, which means less daylight, colder temperatures, and gray skies most days. In these conditions, feelings of depression and lack of motivation for social, school, and even self-care activities can worsen. All of this, too, is not without the stress of midterms, getting back into the routine of school, and figuring out or applying for what to do during the summer. 

With students balancing all of their responsibilities, academic or otherwise, sacrificing basic needs can allow for more to get done. Students may forget to eat, stay up until 3 a.m., let their room fall into a disarray, or even not make time to pick up medications or schedule mental health appointments, all in the name of productivity. 

These challenges do not come out of the blue; in part, they are a culmination of small compromises that can become a default of pushing physical and mental boundaries in order to stay afloat in a competitive environment. 

It is clear the de-prioritization of well-being is a contributing factor to the persistence of mental health challenges among students.

Though it may be easy to sideline your mental health, success cannot come without prioritizing yourself and your needs. To be able to continue working toward your goals, it is important to take care of the body and the mind that carries you through it. 

Although prioritizing oneself can be easier said than done when deadlines and life in general are starting to overwhelm you, these changes can be small. It can be as simple as going to bed instead of staying up late writing an essay due the next day. In the end, poor sleep would lower the quality of not just the essay but also performance in other domains.

Not only is it important to set boundaries for your basic needs, it is even more crucial that you adhere to them over time. These habits are made to give attention to your well-being — not what you produce. By being firm about your stopping point, you are advocating for yourself when there are factors like coursework encouraging you to make compromises. 

Another aspect of self-advocacy is communicating with your professor. This doesn’t mean trauma dumping on Outlook; your privacy matters, and one’s level of comfort in sharing this information depends on the individual. However, when professors are aware of ongoing circumstances, it creates a space for them to offer resources, extensions, or long-term help. If creating an email or a plan sounds overwhelming in itself, WashU Cares offers resources about writing to professors and support for creating action plans for students. 

At WashU, ambition can be a given. However, taking on too much can lead to burnout. The phrase “something’s got to give” can be used to describe that breaking point. In overwhelming times, it is a reminder that it’s okay to let go of things to make room for yourself. Taking time to inventory your commitments and goals can offer insight on what you actually need to do versus what you feel like you need to do. Asking yourself “What is this adding to my life?” or “Is this taking time away from things I care about, like friends or self-care?” can help you ground yourself. 

Many students who attend WashU already come from rigorous academic backgrounds and feel pressure from seeing others excel, their family’s expectations, or even their own ambitions. However, these motivators should not overshadow you and your well-being. 

As a community, it feels normal to rank mental health low on the long list of priorities we carry around. That doesn’t have to be the norm. Breaking this cycle can lead to less burnout and improved mental health among students. It is important that we as a community encourage each other to challenge these sacrifices and habits.

Poor mental health and mental illness are not news. Many students have either been personally affected or known someone who has been affected. The Student Life community is just as guilty of persistent de-prioritization of mental health and mental illness. We all need to take a moment to remind students that above all the directions you feel pulled in by school, family, and life, there is you. Your life matters more than your grades and goals. 

Staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of our editorial board members. The editorial board operates independently of our newsroom and includes members of the senior staff.

Sydney Tran | Head of Design

Jordan Spector | Managing Forum Editor

Nina Giraldo | Editor-in-Chief

Avi Holzman | Editor-in-Chief

Lewis Rand | Managing Sports Editor 

River Alsalihi | Junior Forum Editor

Kate Theerman Rodriguez | Junior Forum Editor

Alice Gottesman | Managing Scene Editor

Elizabeth Grieve | Senior Scene Editor

Sam Powers | Managing Photo Editor

David Ciorba | Senior Forum Editor

Eliza Stulman | Junior Sports Editor

The following resources are available for student at WashU: WashU Cares, Habif Therapy, WashU counseling, Uncle Joe’s, SARAH, RSVP, and BHR (1-800-811-4760)