People who study day and night without any kind of rest just because of peer pressure-you don’t have to. Many of us take for granted that studying day and night despite exhaustion will help us reach our goal, but in reality, in most cases, it’s the opposite. This is because nowadays, many students study just because their parents, teachers and anyone around them compare them to their counterparts, even when knowing that it would demotivate them further, to the point that their mental health deteriorates.

Mental health is one of the most important aspects of every person’s life. And ruining it would mean that we would not be able to think rationally. Unfortunately, mental health is often overlooked in today's time, especially in Bangladesh. There are several factors leading to the deterioration of mental health, like stress, anxiety, loss of a loved one and so on. But what ruins mental health more than anything else? COMPARISON.

Yes, you read it right. Comparison destroys one’s mental health. You see, nowadays, people- parents in particular-would compare the academic record of their child to someone else’s rather than appreciating what they achieved. No wonder suicide rates across the world are increasing day by day. In fact, about 800,000 people lose their lives to suicide every year; that's 1.5% of all deaths per year. Every day, every hour, perhaps this very second, someone gives up their life just due to getting compared instead of getting appreciated. People hear about this news all the time, yet they would still stick to the rule that excessive comparing is good and that it improves mindset and intelligence. Hell, they would even go to the point that they would not let their child do anything they like and instead make them-force them rather- to do something others would do. They would realize that they feel hurt, but they would still listen to what society says and would continue with their comparison saga anyway. This destroys the mindset of the child, no matter how successful they become.

For example, when students don’t get, say, a full score in the exams, their parents would be devastated, even when they miss the full score by just 1 mark. I get it, you want your child to be number 1 on everything, but do you really think that negatively affecting their mental health by pressurizing them to study relentlessly to beat someone’s score rather than appreciating their hard work would make them succeed? If you do, I’m sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. Instead, it demotivates them to do anything and degrades their mindset to such a level that they lose their sanity and end up making the tough decision to give up their life. Comparing them once or twice is still okay to boost up their determination to succeed. But comparing them repeatedly, even in the little things that they do, is not okay.. It’s madness.

Does that mean studying is useless? No, studying is important. Without studying we would not be qualified enough to go on with what the future awaits us in most cases. But that doesn’t mean we have to study relentlessly 24/7. Every student has their own technique of studying that enables them to study effectively and nurture their mental health at the same time. Some students take short breaks after a long hour of excessive studying; some prefer listening to music while studying; some do not like studying in the daytime and would prefer studying at night, while some others prefer waking up early in the morning to savour the rest of the day by finishing their studies early. Any technique works, as long as you're mentally healthy.

So to everyone reading this blog, never compare yourselves, or anyone other than you, to anyone else. You are you, and that’s your power. And to parents, take care of your children. You may never know what kind of pressure they have to go through, and never compare them to anyone else, even in the little things, for that would deteriorate them mentally and emotionally rather than promote them. Always appreciate what they do and achieve, even when others don’t, for they deserve to be appreciated and inspired by you to go on with their life. Support them in whatever profession they want to do, as even if you are happy with the career you choose for them, they may never be. And to everyone: SUICIDE ISN’T THE ANSWER.