Is Online School Better for Your Mental Health?

While distance learning has been around for decades, the interest in online college degrees has increased significantly in recent years.

Students considering distance learning programs often wonder if online school is better for their mental health.

Learn more about the impact of online study on your mental health and ways you can support your needs while earning a degree remotely.

Mental Health Advantages of Online School

Studying online has several distinct mental health advantages when compared with traditional in-person degrees.

Each student will have unique mental health needs but here are some ways that online school can support your mental health.

Control Over Your Learning Environment

Learning is sometimes mistaken for an entirely internal process but the learning environment also plays a significant role in both educational outcomes and student experience.

Distance learning students can customize a learning environment to suit their every need.

The ability to create a unique learning space can be especially advantageous to students with additional learning needs or mental health challenges.

Online school can ensure that you are comfortable, relaxed, and confident as you learn new skills and concepts.

Flexible Scheduling

Most students have experienced the stress of being late for class at some point in their life. Getting to class on time can add small doses of stress to your life at regular intervals.

Remote study allows students to control their own schedules and avoid a common source of stress.

Online study also allows students to create a schedule that works for their energy and focus rhythms. Some students have a greater ability to concentrate at a specific time of day and can choose to study at that time.

Reduced Transportation

Traveling to campus can increase students' stress levels while also taking their time and money.

Students who experience anxiety driving or taking public transportation will be able to learn without being exposed to key stressors.

Increased Time with Loved Ones

Traditional on-campus degrees require students to either study at a college near them or relocate for school.

Online schools can support mental health by allowing students to spend time with their loved ones and stay connected to support networks.

The flexible schedules offered by online colleges can also allow adult students with families to spend more time with their children.

Privacy

Students with specific mental health needs can benefit from the privacy afforded by online study.

Personal learning accommodations can be kept private and shared only with relevant instructors.

How to Support Your Mental Health While Studying Online

Online school can be better for your mental health but it's still important to attend to key details that contribute to overall well-being.

Create a Dedicated Learning Space

Individuals who work or study from home sometimes feel that different areas of their lives can become difficult to separate.

While traveling to and from campus can be inconvenient, it also provides a practical boundary between school and life.

Creating a dedicated study space can allow students to feel done with study time and re-enter other contexts of life more clearly.

Some students will benefit from studying at the library or finding a coffee shop or workspace where they can go to get work done.

Take Breaks

Flexible scheduling can be a benefit to mental health but the ability to study at any time can create difficulty for extremely driven or perfectionist students.

It's a good idea to set aside some study-free time in your schedule and avoid working during these periods.

Students who work full-time or study on the weekends should be especially aware of the need to take breaks and schedule rest time.

Exercise

A sedentary lifestyle is a major factor that can hinder mental health. Exercise is an important component of maintaining your mental health while you earn an online degree.

Many students find that their attention and energy improve significantly when they add regular exercise to their schedules.

Finding an enjoyable form of exercise and exploiting the scheduling flexibility of online programs can be a great way to support your mental health.

Nutrition

Nutrition is another under-appreciated aspect of mental health. Choosing a balanced diet that provides ample nutrients should be a priority while learning online.

Distance learning students may have more control over their diets because they don't have to eat restaurant or cafeteria food as often.

Preparing several nutritious meals at the start of the week can save time and allow students to feel energized and alert while they study.

Sleep

Sleep plays a key role in both mental health and learning. Distance learning students should find out which sleep schedule works best for them and stick with it.

Studying while tired is rarely productive and can have a detrimental impact on your mental health over longer periods of time.

Make sure you are getting sufficient quantity and quality of sleep while you complete an online degree to optimally support your mental health.

Find an Online Degree Today

Each student's situation is unique but online school can be better for your mental health. Find a flexible online degree and start learning right away.