蘑菇传媒

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When I first arrived at university, I thought the hardest part would be the coursework. I expected long hours in the library, group projects that stretched late into the evening聽and聽the occasional night of studying until sunrise before an exam. Those challenges were real, but they were not what left me most exhausted. The聽real burden聽came from something quieter,聽something I had never even heard of before: the mental load.

The mental load is all of the things you think about, plan for and organize that no one else sees. It is not simply what happens inside the classroom. It is the constant responsibility of keeping your life moving while also trying to keep up with your studies.

The Constant Juggle

In between lectures, I would find myself thinking about whether I had remembered to email my landlord if my OSAP (, a government financial aid program for students) payment had arrived and if I could still buy groceries after paying for rent and textbooks. Sometimes, during a lab session, I would suddenly remember that I needed to register for a career fair or renew my student bus pass.

These tasks were not complicated on their own, but together they preoccupied my mind. They became a layer of invisible work that followed me everywhere, even when I was supposed to be focused on something else.

The Many Small Decisions

One thing I never expected was how many decisions I would have to make each day. From the moment I woke up, I was choosing what to wear, whether to walk or take the bus and which assignment to start first. By the time evening arrived, deciding what to make for dinner felt like a major challenge.

This is called decision fatigue. When your mind is busy shifting between so many small choices all day, even the simplest decision can start to feel overwhelming. It is not a sign that you are careless. It is a sign that your brain has been working without pause.

The Responsibilities We Overlook

Alongside coursework, there is a long list of responsibilities that no one includes in a syllabus:

• Answering emails from professors and supervisors
• Updating a LinkedIn profile before a networking event
• Booking medical appointments and renewing important documents
• Keeping a budget so you can pay rent and still have enough for groceries

These tasks may not have deadlines or grades attached to them, but they are essential. As they are not part of the formal academic structure, they can be harder to schedule time for. This means they often remain on your mind until they are done.

Learning to Carry Less

It took me some time to realize that managing the mental load was not about doing more, but about creating habits that reduced the number of decisions I needed to make.

I started eating the same breakfast on weekdays. That small change removed one choice from my mornings and left me with more energy for the day ahead.

I set aside a half hour every other day for administrative tasks. During that time, I answered emails, checked my OSAP account and planned my schedule. Instead of letting those tasks interrupt me throughout the day, I completed them in one block.

When I thought of something I needed to do, I wrote it down in a notebook right away. This helped me trust that I would remember it rather than keeping it in my mind all day.

I also gave myself a few regular choices for meals, outfits and bus routes. Limiting these options made my daily routine feel calmer.

Most importantly, I started taking short walks without my phone. Even ten minutes outside gave me a clearer head and a break from constant input.

Why It Matters

The mental load is a real part of university life and it often goes unnoticed. It is easy to think you are simply bad at managing your time or not working hard enough when, in reality, you are carrying a set of responsibilities that no one else can see.

Recognizing this weight is the first step to making it lighter. By creating routines, writing things down and giving your mind genuine rest, you can protect your energy for the work that matters most.

University is about more than attending lectures and completing assignments. It is about learning to manage the many moving parts of your life in a way that keeps you healthy and balanced. That skill will serve you well long after graduation.

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By Nana Haidara, University of Ottawa

Starting university at 16 was challenging. I felt both excited and extremely nervous. Most of my peers were older, and many events were 17+. I couldn鈥檛 help but wonder: how did I even get here?聽Should I have taken a gap year?聽Should I lie about my age to fit in and not be always treated as the baby of the group?

All these concerns made me doubt every decision, personal or school related. It is difficult because, for me, imposter syndrome comes and goes at the most random times. Some days, it appears unexpectedly, and others, it decides to leave you alone.

It's easy to settle in life because we're comfortable and don't feel at risk experiencing new things.

Imposter syndrome often appears in new environments. It isn鈥檛 just about age; it thrives when you worry about how others perceive you, overthink your actions and struggle to believe in yourself. In university, imposter syndrome hits me the most when comparing my grades to my classmates and depending on professors' feedback for academic validation. At first, seeking feedback is normal, but relying on academic validation to feel worthy can quickly become toxic.

It's easy to settle in life because we're comfortable and don't feel at risk experiencing new things. But don't let imposter syndrome stop you from exploring. It may sound clich茅, but it's okay to fail. University is just the beginning of figuring out your life and knowing what you can and cannot handle. Don't limit yourself because of fear.

As an international student, I understand the feeling of pressure with family and friends both supporting and relying on you overseas. The pressure to make them proud, stay in touch, involve them in decisions and use them as motivation can feel overwhelming. This can also be the case if you come from a small Canadian town and are the first in your family to move to a university in a big city. Know you're not alone in how you're feeling and thinking. If you're there, it's for a reason.

I recently realized how much social media contributed to my imposter syndrome, making me feel out of place. I kept comparing my university experience to what I see in people's vlogs and even in movies 鈥� and when my life wasn't turning out like that, I started being really hard on myself. The issue with social media and university vlogs is that users often   portray perfect or idealized versions of their lives鈥� don't believe everything! The reality is we don鈥檛 know what sacrifices that someone may have had to make to get that amazing research position or internship. University is the place and time to move at your own pace, whether you finish in three or five years. It's okay to change your mind, change your program and change your speed. I can鈥檛 emphasize enough that university is just the beginning of figuring out your life 鈥� even if you feel out of place. The closest thing I can compare university imposter syndrome to is like going to the gym for the first time: you think everyone is staring at you and judging you. Meanwhile, they're either not noticing or glad to see a new face.

There is no need to add any more pressure by striving to be a perfectionist. That's a trait that can easily become toxic.

To overcome imposter syndrome, I had to go through a phase where I forced myself to appear confident in all areas (project confidence until it becomes natural). Reword your negative thoughts into positives 鈥� even if you don't believe them. Be proud of yourself for trying. Another thing that helped me a lot was video journaling. Some prefer writing, but I found video journaling helpful鈥攊t allowed me to express myself and later revisit my feelings exactly as they were.

Looking back, I realized I was so hard on myself that I forgot to just take stock of my journey and remember that even if I was not the top of my class, I was still showing up and doing what I could, which is more than enough at the moment. As a university student, you must be proud of yourself and celebrate small wins. There is no need to add any more pressure by striving to be a perfectionist. That's a trait that can easily become toxic. Remember: your validation, confidence, and sense of belonging don鈥檛 depend on your professors鈥� opinions or your GPA. Reflect on how far you鈥檝e come and how much further you can go by continuing to try new things. Do not let the fear of imposter syndrome consume your life. 

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By Claire Hutcheon

Moving to university from high school was a surreal experience. No more daily school routines to keep me on track, no parents or teachers to constantly remind me of assignments and tests. I was finally an adult, making my own decisions and keeping track of my own time. Unchained from structure, I was liberated.

That feeling lasted about a month until I became so distracted by my freedom that I put off studying for a midterm for weeks when suddenly... it was the day of my midterm, and I completely forgot. I missed my test and had to drop the class, which went on my permanent transcript.

Whether it is a late email response, cramming for a test at the last second, or delaying an assignment, almost everyone has found themselves locked in the all-familiar cycle of saying, 鈥淚鈥檒l get to it eventually.鈥�

Starting university might bring about your first encounter with procrastination, or you鈥檙e familiar with it and know the struggle too well.

Unfortunately, procrastination can be detrimental to success: lower exam scores, slower job promotions, increased anxiety and self-esteem, and it might even make it difficult for you to finish school. It is important to catch the cycle of procrastinating before it starts, and if you can鈥檛 do that, to know how to escape it. But we can鈥檛 begin to find the solution without first understanding the cause.

Procrastination is not just delaying tasks or actions intentionally; it is an irrational process that occurs despite the negative consequences because, to your brain, procrastination is rewarding.

When we decide to procrastinate, all of the stress and pressure we once felt waft away, and the body鈥檚 reward system, which has no concept of time, is happy because its job is to make us feel good right now.

In turn, you continue to procrastinate and optimize 鈥榞ood feelings鈥�. That is why you might find yourself putting off an assignment until later, and then tomorrow comes, and you do the same thing every day until the day it is due.

Another form of procrastinating is doing smaller tasks that are less significant compared to something else. For example, washing the dishes instead of studying for a final exam. This way, you avoid the major task by distracting yourself with something productive so it feels rewarding.

Procrastination is the struggle with self-control, and it is no different than picking at a scab or eating even though you鈥檙e full. As it becomes more of a habit, procrastinating is harder to overcome. Hence the saying, 鈥淥ld habits die hard.鈥�

So, how can you change your procrastinating ways?

In all fairness, I鈥檝e never gone cold turkey on my procrastinating habits. But, after years of learning my lesson time and time again, I鈥檝e gotten much better and even developed a handful of tips to fall back on when I feel myself losing the battle.

Here are some of the ways you can delay your procrastination in university and just do it later (pun intended).

Eat the Frog

As Mark Twain said, 鈥渋f the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, you鈥檒l have the satisfaction of knowing you鈥檙e done with the worst thing you鈥檒l have to do all day.鈥� In other words, if you tackle the biggest, most important task of the day before anything else, you鈥檒l beat the temptation to procrastinate.

Eating the frog will take some adjustments to your mornings, but it is an effective way of making sure you start your day off right and don鈥檛 begin to prioritize smaller tasks over the hardest and most important tasks.

Or do nothing!

I know this sounds counter-productive. Shouldn't I be saying 鈥渏ust start your task鈥�? However, the majority of procrastinators aren鈥檛 lazy, they simply do less important and more immediately gratifying tasks to avoid the more important and anxiety-inducing tasks.

The 鈥渙r do nothing鈥� method entails setting aside a certain amount of time in the day to work 鈥� 90 minutes let's say. During that time frame you don鈥檛 have to work on the big scary task, but you can鈥檛 do anything else. No scrolling on your phone, no sleeping, no cleaning your room or washing the dishes, just sitting there and doing nothing.

Eventually, you鈥檒l find yourself slowly starting the thing you wanted to work on and when you find yourself drifting, simply stop and stare at the wall. Doing nothing will feel like a break from your work but not enough of one to distract you.

Plan your day before it starts

Planning your day after you wake up can take hours out of your day and away from the time you have to actually work. By planning your day the night before, you鈥檒l cut down on the amount of decisions you have to make in a day. This way, you can start your day feeling accomplished and already knowing what the first thing you have to do is.

Make a list and cut it in half

When you're actively procrastinating or about to procrastinate something, it is common to get swept up in completing smaller tasks. Even having too many things to do in a day can be overwhelming and cause you to procrastinate. 

As you鈥檙e making your list of things you have to do in the day, write out everything that you can think of that you want to get done. Then, take that list and start crossing off tasks that are the least important and that you have more time to complete. Leaving only the most important things that need to be completed on the list.

In doing so, you have more focus on those few tasks and are less inclined to be distracted by smaller, more rewarding tasks.

Adjust your environment

As a procrastinator, I also have major FOMO and insecurities about my procrastination habits. So, the number one thing that I always do when I am at my wits end with an assignment is leave my house. I have always found there to be way too many distractions when trying to work in my room or at the dining table. Most importantly, there is no one there to shame me if I鈥檓 not working.

By leaving my house and going to a cafe or the library to get my work done, I actually utilize my own insecurities of someone judging me for not working into completing my assignments. The societal pressure of other people being productive works wonders for me.

If you鈥檙e someone who can鈥檛 work in public places because of the noise and constant movements, then find somewhere quiet to sit down and focus. Take away any possible distractions, turn all of your devices onto 鈥楧o Not Disturb鈥�. Sometimes you need to tune everything out, before you can really tune into your work.

Procrastination is a persistent struggle for many of us, especially in university where newfound freedom and independence can quickly lead to missed deadlines and stress. I still struggle with procrastination but with some self-reflection and strategies, I鈥檝e gained more control over my life and so can you.

Managing procrastination isn鈥檛 easy and these tips are not a guaranteed pathway towards never procrastinating again. They are, however, a crucial step in developing more self-control and motivation in your university career. The first step is always difficult but continuity is key so embrace these tools and remember, it鈥檚 about progress, not perfection. You鈥檝e got this!

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