Attending university or college takes a huge mindset change to adapt to new circumstances. Higher education is far different from high school, where ‘spoon-feeding’ changes to taking responsibility for your actions.

Suddenly, the dynamics change and students need to adapt quickly, which can cause a sense of feeling overwhelmed. Stress sets in, causing paralysis or mental anguish can result, which is unhelpful. Here’s how students can learn to adapt positively to the new environment by practicing healthy self-reflection.



Critical thinking and self-reflection
Critical thinking and self-reflection have much in common. Both require the ability to take a step back from the task or subject and to engage in deep thought. Rather than reacting spontaneously, the task or topic requires careful thought and questioning about the facts presented to you.

Asking questions about the validity or truthfulness of the subject is critical to academic health. Once you fully engage with a topic, you start to overcome the reticence that prevents you from writing an essay, for example. And then there’s https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/self-reflection/ if you fail to find ideas and inspiration for that perfect essay on self-reflection. Grades Fixer has free essay examples on almost every academic topic, and it’s a must-visit resource for every student.

Mental health and self-reflection
When facing the challenges of college, it is vital to look after your mental health. When faces with innumerable textbooks that you must learn from to do essays and get through each module, moderation is key. Staying mentally fit requires self-discipline and a healthy level of mind control that can be accomplished through self-reflection.

Staying mentally fit in challenging circumstances requires time alone instead of agreeing to attend every activity outside the lecture room.

Looking after your mental health requires self-reflection to examine your personal responses to people and the work that must be done. Take care of your health by becoming involved with your academic work to meet goals and achieve your degree.



Maintain a positive mindset
Students can only grow in self-awareness by becoming aware of what they are thinking. Once you become aware of your thoughts, you can observe how negative thoughts create a negative response.

What happens internally is expressed externally, which is not supportive of achieving academic goals. Becoming self-aware is a critical component of self-reflection as awareness builds a new foundation from which to approach the academic lifestyle.
Automatic responses become considered reactions as you begin to appreciate how positive thoughts make you feel good. Positive thinking is directly related to brain health, and mental wellbeing.

A good attitude is beneficial to studying by taking each task one step at a time. Becoming mindful is a lifelong process that leads to a life of success when approached with a positive mindset.

Build a supportive network
Self-reflection and studying do better when paired with a supportive network of friends and family members. Because you are probably living apart from family members, friends become even more important to sustaining a healthy life.

Make friends at college so that you have help to call on when writing essays, to chat and have fun with. Having a trusted group of friends to support you in times of trouble and when life is good is important for emotional health.

Equally essential to overall wellbeing is to engage in physical activity. If sport has not yet been part of your agenda, now is the time to consider it.

Take up a sport
Taking action to achieve balance also means taking up a sport to keep your body active. Physical health supports mental and emotional health. If you haven’t yet done any sports, swimming or badminton are a good place to start. Even table tennis is a good place to start with exercising your body.

Hiking may be a problem when living in an urban area but getting out in nature is healing. Physical exertion when hiking is a fun way to tone your body while healing in nature. Doing sport promotes the release of ‘feel-good’ hormones that promote brain health, also making it easier to focus on studies and writing those interminable essays.

Conclusion
Attending university requires building self-reflection to write successful essays. Writing good essays can only be achieved when boosting learning capabilities through critical thinking. Learning how to learn is probably one of the biggest challenges faced at university so approach your books with awareness. Ask questions and challenge the obstacles presented to you without becoming overwhelmed in the process. Most of all, look after your overall wellbeing by managing stress in healthy ways.

Author’s Bio:
James Collins worked in the retail sector as the procurement and distribution manager before deciding to switch to academic writing. Now he works with a reputed assignment service that provides essays, term papers, thesis and dissertations. When not at work, he takes boxing classes, plays with his pets and beautifying his garden.