When starting college, as is reasonable, most students initially only seek to pursue academic development that will guide them to their degree and a secure and promising future and career. Having a mindset focused on academic excellence going into college is beneficial to success, but having such tunnel vision on educational goals that one disregards other priorities is an all too common problem that often leads to personal and academic burnout. Amidst all the classes, the study time, and the tests, it is essential that students keep in mind that being intellectually well goes well beyond academic success exclusively. Experiencing college in a truly enriching way requires students to also focus on their personal development amid their academic careers.
Balancing Goals & Priorities
Intellectual wellness creates and nurtures an interconnected and strong relationship with one’s mind. As previously stated, academic endeavors are important to intellectual wellness, but they are only one aspect of many that contribute to it. Some other actions or characteristics that could be beneficial to cultivating one’s intellectual wellness are consciously looking for opportunities to learn about new topics and expanding your learning beyond an academic setting.
Overall Wellness
When students allow the influence of that original drive to focus solely on academics to take over in the name of competing with other students, getting higher grades, impressing educators, etc., it can distract them from pursuing other outlets that can help them achieve overall intellectual wellness. That lack of pursuing intellectual wellness in ways that leave you fulfilled on all fronts (not just academic) and encourage overall personal growth for the sake of focusing on academic pursuits can only diminish the joy of undergoing education and lead to a limited viewpoint in terms of learning and an overwhelming development of stress. This expansion of the level of stress that a student is experiencing, at its highest point, is called burnout.
