Achi news desk-
“Last year I put my studies on hold because I had to focus on finding and securing a job,” says a stressed-out professional
Hi Haya,
I am a content writer in my 20s, working in one of the major media houses in Karachi and also pursuing further education at the same time.
Last year I put my studies on hold as I needed to focus on finding and securing a job. I intend to restart my studies, but I’m quite nervous and stressed about my ability to effectively achieve my academic goals (combined with unrealistic perfectionistic tendencies and an overwhelming fear of failure) – which actually caused severe brain fog in the past, which then affected my productivity – both academically and professionalism.
Please provide some guidance on how I can overcome this problem, achieve my goals, maintain my productivity and manage work and time (mentally).
– Stressed content writer
Dear Stressed Content Writer,
Congratulations on working on one of the biggest media houses in Karachi. I applaud your ambition and dedication, given the challenges that come with it. Juggling work and studies can be a daunting task and it’s commendable to hear you do it.
It is commendable that you recognize these challenges and seek guidance to overcome them.
To restart your studies, to be able to maintain performance at work and school, achieve your goals, maintain productivity and manage work and time (mentally). Here are some insights and strategies that may help:
Time managment. Juggling between two things at the same time management is critical. Allocating certain times for studies and certain time for work.
Structuring and managing your time is critical to being able to get work done and maintain balance.
Focus on a single task: During the time allotted to work and study, focus on one task at a time instead of jumping between tasks in rapid succession.
Approach goals: Shift your focus from avoidance goals (what you want to avoid) to approach goals (what you want to achieve). For example, instead of being afraid of failure, set goals related to learning, improvement and progress.
Set realistic expectations: Realize that the results will not always perfectly match your expectations. It’s OK! Prepare yourself mentally for different scenarios. Even if things don’t go as planned, find value in the experience.
Work on perfectionism: Perfectionism often stems from fear of failure and not feeling good enough about yourself. Your triggers are your teachers, and they come to show you the work to be done and to heal from it. Explore your fear of failure, where it comes from, how it serves you, and how it may be contributing to your feelings of overwhelm and brain fog. Take this opportunity to work on improving the relationship you have with yourself and work towards creating the shedding of the old belief systems you have created about yourself and the creation of new ones.
Development of a growth/solution oriented mindset: a growth mindset looks at opportunity and learning from every failure, every attempt and every failure/victory compared to a fixed mindset where you feel that nothing can change and believe that success or failure is mainly determined by innate qualities, where challenges are avoided, and we give up with ease in the face of obstacles.
Stress management and self-care: Stress management is critical in dealing with brain fog and ensuring you stay physically, mentally and emotionally healthy to thrive at your best. Focus on the basics. Rest enough, eat well, sleep well and exercise. Plus, what else allows you to manage your stress. Do it.
Self-compassion: One of the most critical in our journey towards growth. Celebrate your victories along the way and show yourself compassion for the moments when you feel different.
Good luck on your journey and remember that the only person who needs to believe in you is you.
Additionally, if you are having trouble dealing with all of the above, I recommend you work with a therapist/coach.
(Remember half of our journeys win when we seek support)
Come on
Chaya Malik is a psychotherapist, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner, organizational well-being strategist and trainer with expertise in creating organizational cultures that focus on well-being and raising awareness around mental health.
Send her your questions [email protected]
Note: The above advice and opinions are the author’s and specific to the query. We strongly recommend our readers to consult relevant experts or professionals for personalized advice and solutions. The author and Geo.tv bear no responsibility whatsoever for the consequences of actions taken based on the information provided here. All published excerpts are subject to editing to improve grammar and clarity.
