By: Soham Sawant, Kennedy College of Sciences Well-Being Leader

For many students, college isn’t just academically difficult; it’s a daily battle against an environment that feels fundamentally built for a different type of brain. Big Lecture halls, fluorescent lights, scientific concepts and long and difficult course content. Pair these with crushing deadlines and approaching finals, having even a second to yourself feels like a luxury.

Recently the feeling of overstimulation has been prevalent on campus, everyone seems to be feeling overwhelmed by academics, social interactions and some are even feeling the\ word “fomo”, the fear of missing out. Though these effects are faced by everyone it is particularly more difficult for students who have some form of diagnosed or undiagnosed neurodivergence.

Even though medical care is something you should definitely seek if you require, there are some little habits that you can implement to lessen the feeling of overstimulation and get a hold of your own attention.

Before getting into the actual habits we should first understand why and how this usually happens. On university level and in this era with phones and short-form content, it is really easy for students to get stuck into these dopamine sticking points. Despite the fact that short-form content is a much more convenient way of delivering information, we forget that our brains get used to only having stimulation is short bursts. This might seem not that big of a problem but in the overall life of a student, it can lead to big issues.

Because of the now dulled brain, anything even slightly more longer than the short-form content seems too much. Sitting in a lecture now feels like a chore, focus starts to dwindle withing the first few minutes. Homeworks which aren’t meant to be such that they require you to use your brain to focus for longer periods, seem daunting and near impossible.

So, how do you start to fix this? The first step is just becoming more self-aware. Learn to spot the signs. Are you reading the same sentence over and over? Does the noise in the cafeteria suddenly feel way too loud, making you irritable? That’s your brain signaling that it’s tired. Instead of just pushing through, listen to it. This is the perfect time to use our campus resources. Find that “serenity center” or wellness room you’ve heard about. Remember the massage chairs tucked away on the third floor of UCrossing. Go use one for 15 minutes. Taking that small, deliberate break isn’t being lazy; it’s a strategic way to reset your brain so you can actually be productive later.

Taking a minute for yourself is a great on-the-spot fix, but if this feeling of being overwhelmed is becoming your default, you need to talk to someone. And remember, “professionals” aren’t just doctors. Your teachers, your faculty advisor, and even the sta in your department are trained professionals who want you to succeed. Go to your professor’s office hours. You don’t have to give them your life story, but just saying, “I’m feeling really overwhelmed by the pace of the class and am struggling to focus,” can open a door. They can offer assistance, like breaking down the content, or point you to academic support you didn’t even know existed. They see this all the time, and you’d be surprised how many resources are available if you just ask.