Mental Health in Architecture School
Jonathan Monfries
University of Calgary
Congratulations! You are finally in architecture school and this is something you have likely been looking forward to for years and years. The opportunities working in the studio, meeting new students, and building models in the shop are all so exciting. While these activities are certainly enjoyable and enriching, students often go to great lengths of effort to perfect their work and neglect their mental health. A Harvard study found that graduate students are over three times as likely to experience mental health disorders. In a design field, it can be difficult to know when to stop. If you have until 9:00 am to finish a deliverable, you might use all the time through the night to perfect that deliverable and ensure it is your best product by the deadline. Perhaps the list of required plans and renders is overwhelming, and you can’t see the end in sight. These feelings and habits can be unhealthy, and whether you are a new or returning student in architecture school, this blog post will provide some strategies to help you produce your best work while maintaining mental well being.
Organization is key to ensure you are getting your work done to your best effort while also keeping healthy. This habit spans across multiple areas and can benefit your work in a variety of ways. Being organized in your studio space means keeping your area clutter free as it often begins to collect extra materials and off-cuts. A messy and hectic studio desk can not only contribute to your feeling of anxiety and overwhelm, but also makes it difficult to effectively collaborate with others and interact with your instructors. Keeping an “organized mess” is different, and welcomed if you have all your sketches and creations in a designated place. Sometimes people encourage mess and let your creativity flow – this should happen in an organized manner.
Additionally, being organized with your time is an essential matter. Pulling all-nighters seems to have become a norm for architecture school, but it isn’t. No one is expecting you to pull an all-nighter, and often these are only because you have lost track of time and are over-designing something. Try to create a schedule of what deliverables you need to produce and be generous so you can account for time that your creativity runs wild. Set your own internal deadline – perhaps it is 11pm each night to ensure you still get a good sleep.
Taking breaks from your work are also highly valuable for your health and even your creative process. Utilizing breaks to exercise, explore the city by taking a walk, or simply calling your mother allows you to stop overthinking your designs, and take a fresh look a second time after you return from your break. It allows you to distress and improve not only your mental well being but your physical well being as well. Who knows, maybe you completely overlooked a certain detail all while overdesigning and upon second glance after a break, you make the best design decision for your project.
Finally, if you find any of these strategies not helping your mental health, be sure to explore the resources offered by your school. These resources are often paid for in your tuition or covered by your student health insurance, so it is important to take advantage of the services offered! Architecture school can be difficult and overwhelming, and you are not alone in thinking that it can be a struggle and detriment to your mental well being. It is important to create personal strategies to achieve your goals and ambitions for graduate school, and keep in mind if at any time you think you need extra support, reach out and utilize the campus services. At the end of the day, you will get through this and become a great designer!
