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You don’t need to do everything to care for your mental health—just something that fits, feels doable, and moves you in the right direction.

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When it comes to study, students bring different intensities to it. Some do the bare minimum to pass. Some are strategic – focusing on the highest priority tasks. Others go all in on everything, chasing the perfect outcome.

Ideally, the level of investment a student makes in their study is conscious, taking into account their life circumstances and competing priorities. So, the student doing the bare minimum does so not out of laziness, but because they’ve calculated it’s the best option given everything else on their plate.

This idea of considered investment is something I also encourage people to apply to their mental health. I do believe everyone benefits from thinking about and investing in their mental health—but the level of investment needed at any given time is highly individual.

 

Mental Health Isn’t All or Nothing

I suspect many people still equate mental health with mental illness. That leads to a black-and-white view: you’re either unwell and need therapy, or you’re fine and don’t need to think about it.

But mental health includes everything in between. It includes all the grey areas—those not-quite-fine states that still affect how we feel, think, act, and relate to others.

That’s why it makes sense to think of mental health investment as existing on a spectrum. For example:

• Low-intensity investments might include stress-reducing habits you sprinkle into your week—like a walk, journaling, or a chat with a friend. You might try one of the bite-sized practices from the GGIA catalogue, which are all backed by research.

• Moderate investments might involve stepping back and reassessing your lifestyle: improving sleep, eating better, building stronger social connections, or creating space for meaningful activities.

• High-intensity investments could involve engaging in therapy, completing a mental health course, attending a retreat, or beginning formal treatment. These often involve significant time, energy, and support—and are especially important when mental health concerns become more serious.

 

So… How Do You Know What’s Needed?

It’s not always obvious. But there are usually clues.

• Sometimes, the decision is made for us—we become unwell, and seeking support becomes unavoidable. This is relatively rare but important to acknowledge.

• Sometimes, we can tell that mental factors are holding us back—things like low motivation, difficult emotions, poor concentration, or self-sabotage. We feel stuck, and our own thoughts and feelings seem to be in the way.

• Other times, something just feels “off.” Maybe we’ve become more withdrawn, more negative, or less like ourselves. We notice that our internal life has shifted in ways we don’t like.

• And sometimes, it’s about the external pressures. If you’re navigating a big life change or prolonged stress, it may be a good time to proactively invest in your wellbeing—not just to get through, but to stay steady.

 

Start Small, but Start

Big investments often require trade-offs. And that’s okay. I’ve known students to take a break from study in order to prioritise their mental health—and it was the right decision for them.

But it’s also okay to start small.

BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits method is famous for a reason: small changes can unlock big momentum. Why? Because mental health—and our sense of self—functions like a complex system. And in complex systems, even small tweaks can produce ripple effects.

Let me give you an example. In 2024, I decided to work from the city campus one day a week. That one small change led to a new friendship, two collaborative projects, better networking, and a noticeable boost in productivity. It snowballed. That’s the power of a tiny, deliberate shift.

 

The Takeaway

• Everyone should think about their mental health.

• The size of your investment doesn’t need to be huge.

• Starting small is often the smartest move.

• And if you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or spinning your wheels, bring someone else into the conversation.

At Flinders, that might mean having a chat with a Student Success and Wellbeing Advisor (SSWA) or a Counsellor. They can help you figure out what kind of investment makes sense for you.

Mental health isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing something—something that fits, that’s doable, and that moves you in the direction you want to go.

If it’s a crisis or you’re clearly unwell, start by seeking professional help. That support can guide your first steps.

But outside of crisis, you get to choose. And for most students—juggling study, work, and family responsibilities—that choice needs to be realistic. Fortunately, small steps can still take you somewhere good.