Break - Ups During Exams

(By Steven Banda)

Breakups during exam periods can have significant effects on students’ mental health and academic performance due to the emotional distress they cause. Emotional responses such as sadness, anxiety, heartbreak, and rumination often interfere with concentration, memory, motivation, and sleep patterns.

As a result, students may experience decreased productivity, increased procrastination, and diminished academic performance, not because of a lack of intellectual ability, but because emotional strain reduces cognitive efficiency. The combination of academic pressure and emotional pain can create psychological overload, making it difficult for students to perform at their optimal level.

Students experiencing a breakup during exam season are advised to adopt coping strategies that balance emotional well being with academic responsibilities. This includes acknowledging emotional distress rather than suppressing it, setting boundaries to prevent emotions from disrupting study time, and engaging in healthy stress management practices such as journaling, physical activity, mindfulness, and structured study sessions. Additionally, minimizing exposure to emotional triggers, such as contact with an ex-partner, can help maintain focus during critical academic periods.

In certain circumstances, postponing a breakup until after exams may be beneficial, particularly when the relationship is not harmful, as it can preserve emotional stability and reduce stress during a high-pressure academic phase. However, if a relationship is abusive, toxic, or detrimental to mental health, ending it immediately is necessary, as emotional safety and psychological well being should take precedence over academic considerations.

Support systems play a crucial role in helping students navigate emotionally difficult academic periods. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from friends, family, academic staff, school counselors, and mental health services, as well as engage in constructive personal coping mechanisms. Overall, managing emotional challenges effectively while maintaining academic focus requires a balanced approach that prioritizes mental health, emotional resilience, and long term academic goals.

Steven Banda is the Student representative Council (SRC), President for New Media Design at the College of the Arts (COTA).