October through November are typically months of the school year where most (if not all) students are preparing for midterms and trying to meet multiple assignment deadlines. It’s a high stress fast paced extremely busy time of year on campus; reduced (or irregular) sleep, unhealthy meals (and/or skipping food altogether), and limited time to connect with friends and loved ones all become too common. Depression, anxiety, and various struggles with mental health is an especially relevant topic during this time.
So, during your next study break, lean into the conversations regarding mental health on TEDTalks to gain eye-opening and powerful insight into these issues.
(And keep in mind, taking breaks during study sessions is a healthy habit! It can improve productivity and boost sense of mental wellness– just make sure breaks are brief and planned strategically!)
During the rush of midterms, I always catch myself sliding into that strange mix of exhaustion and pressure where even simple things like eating or texting a friend feel overwhelming. Listening to TEDTalks about mental health during short breaks ended up helping me more than I expected—they reminded me that what I was feeling wasn’t unusual and that stress really does change how we think, sleep, and behave. Somewhere midway through the semester, I also realized how much my physical state affected my mood, and that’s when I started paying more attention to resources like MaxMobility Physio & Wellness Scarborough, which focuses on helping people maintain mobility and manage physical strain. Combining mindful study breaks with better awareness of my body made the whole season feel more manageable, and it taught me that staying well is a mix of small, intentional choices rather than one big solution..