While many claim that student life is easy, we believe quite the opposite. From brainstorming unique ideas to giving them words and painting their mind on the canvas, it’s a tough skill. Plus, let’s not forget the constant anxiety and dilemma of not being good enough, which keeps shattering one’s self-confidence.
Now, if you feel like we’re telling your story, don’t worry; you’re not alone. And the best part? There’s a way to overcome such obstacles. So, don’t lose focus, and keep reading this much-needed blog till the end!
Why Do Students Doubt Their Writing In Academia?
As discussed earlier, student life is filled with never-ending challenges. And amidst those struggles, finding your writing not credible is pretty common. But why do students face such a dilemma? What are the factors that contribute to this feeling? Here’s our take on it;
1. High Expectations
Academic writing often comes with high standards and expectations. Students may feel pressured to meet these expectations, which can lead to self-doubt and a fear of not being able to live up to academic standards.
2. Lack Of Confidence
It’s easy to give in to negative thoughts and feelings upon experiencing a failure or receiving criticized feedback from teachers. And such factors often make students doubt their skills and also hesitate to speak their minds.
3. Fear Of Judgment
Most students also fear being judged by their peers, teachers, or evaluators based on their writing. The fear of criticism or negative evaluation can make them doubt their work and feel discouraged.
4. Perfectionism
Though there’s no benchmark of perfection, each individual has personal opinions about this particular term. Thus, a few students also have perfectionistic tendencies, where they strive for flawlessness in their writing.
This can lead to self-criticism and doubt, as they are often overly critical of their work and afraid of making mistakes. And if someone is not reaching that mark set by a certain student or instructor, they can feel discouraged and pressured, too.
5. Limited Feedback Or Guidance
No feedback or guidance from teachers can leave students feeling uncertain about their writing. So, without constructive feedback and guidance, students may struggle to improve their skills and doubt their progress.
How To Overcome Writer’s Anxiety & Believe In Yourself?
Though it may feel like there’s no end to this self-loathing. But don’t give up yet; there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, i.e., below listed ways to overcome such anxiety.
1. Understanding Writer’s Anxiety
Writer’s anxiety is a common challenge academic students face, and it can manifest in various ways. The common causes include fear of failure, self-doubt, and self-comparison.
As per the UK Student Behaviour Report conducted in January 2023, about 71% of the students experience academic anxiety, while 67% doubt their capability.
Thus, we need to understand such anxiety to tackle it and make students feel that they’re not alone in their struggles. And you’ll be surprised to know that even experienced writers face this dilemma from time to time. So, before finding ways to resolve this, we need to understand and acknowledge this anxiety.
2. Setting Realistic Goals
Setting realistic and achievable writing goals is important for overcoming a writer’s anxiety. Students often feel overwhelmed by the list of their writing tasks, which leads to procrastination and increased anxiety.
But breaking down larger writing projects into smaller, manageable tasks can reduce this pressure. Further, a writing schedule and dedicating time to each slot can be helpful.
And while you set these goals, remember that you’re a human, not a machine. So take time to process your emotions and sort out your plans according to that.
3. Embracing The Writing Process
While writing assignments can feel overburdening and even pointless at some times. But we assure you that’s not the case! Instead, try to learn and be confident about what you’ve written rather than focusing on the end result.
Also, making mistakes in between the process and messing up a few things is okay. But you can always make a strong comeback and overcome failures or setbacks.
4. Forming A Supportive Writing Environment
Your surroundings always affect your actions and thought process. So, try to find a designated writing space that inspires and motivates you.
Also, make sure that the environment is free from distractions and keeps you focused. Further, you can also join writing communities, attend workshops and take feedback for support and guidance.
Furthermore, engaging with other students experiencing the same thing as you can help.
5. Freewriting & Brainstorming
Freewriting is another way for students to overcome writer’s block or anxiety. It involves writing without judgment or concern for perfection and letting ideas flow freely onto the page. Also, it doesn’t matter what topic you select; all you have to do is polish your writing and thinking skills.
Further, brainstorming boosts critical thinking and lets a person explore various perspectives.
6. Seeking Feedback & Constructive Criticism
Believe it or not, sometimes we often get hard on ourselves and criticize ourselves more than we deserve. And this can add more to the writing anxiety. So, in this case, why not give your teachers or mates a chance to evaluate your work?
By doing this, you can work on improvements, and compliments will make you feel much better about yourself. Though constructive criticism can be hard to perceive, so try to embrace it with an open mind and think of it as a step to refining your writing skills.
7. Practising Self-Care & Managing Stress
Academia is quite demanding, and almost all related requirements are stressful. So, in this process, prioritizing your self-care is also necessary.
You can engage in regular exercise or even meditate to manage stress. Regardless of what you do, such breaks are better for our minds to work properly. And the best part? Your physique stays good too.
8. Celebrating Achievements & Progress
Last but not least, enjoy and celebrate your journey and accomplishments. Most students end up neglecting this joy by chasing down the next task. And it’s common to experience self-doubts more when you don’t acknowledge your progress.
So, when you work on your writing tasks the next time, don’t forget to celebrate your success for a minute. You’ll be surprised to see a reduction in your anxiety and stress.
The Takeaway
Experiencing writing anxiety as an academic student is not the best feeling. But with the above-discussed tips and tricks, you can surely find a way to overcome it. Also, no matter how difficult the situation might appear, always remember that you’re not alone and believe in yourself!
