Exams are an important part of every student’s life and it is common for you to be under pressure, facing exam stress when exams are waiting around the corner.
If you’re facing exam stress, it is bound to affect your studying. So how exactly do you cope with this exam stress and study better?
Tips to overcome exam stress
Create a timetable. A simple way to beat exam stress is to create a timetable or a study plan to help you study and revise until your exams begin. This helps you plan properly and puts your workload into perspective. Remember to be realistic with your timetable and accept your conditions so that you can give everything proper attention.
Take proper breaks. When you’re stressed and overwhelmed, it’s best to take some time to unwind and relax in between study sessions. By doing this, you are giving your mind some rest and allowing the stress to move on. Taking a small walk post lunch or just doing nothing will help you feel refreshed and recharged, and help cope with stress.
Clear your room and study table. A cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind. Organizing your physical environment and keeping it tidy can help you feel better, clear your mind, increase your productivity and reduce your stress. Hey, maybe the cleaning will be therapeutic and help manage your exam stress!
Try your hand at meditation. Meditation, guided or unguided is a great way to relieve stress. Meditation helps you focus your attention in the moment, calms your mind and even reduces the production of cortisol, the stress hormone in your body. It will help you focus on the task at hand and not overflow your mind with worry about the exams and studying. It is a simple and effective way to overcome exam stress and has many benefits if practiced regularly.
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Maintain a proper diet. During exam time, it is key to follow a proper diet. Eating sugar rich foods or heavy meals before a study session will divert your body’s energy from studying to processing and digesting the food. Eat light and healthy meals at regular intervals and you’ll feel better and reduce exam pressure as your focus and energy will be on the study materials. Follow the same practice even on the day of the exam. You could also practice mindful eating in order to try and appreciate your food and overcoming stress during meals.
Get enough sleep. A major reason as to why you may be unable to study properly is due to lack of adequate sleep. This causes stress too! It is really important to give your mind and body enough time to rest and recover. You should sleep enough so you can attack the day fully energized, with lesser exam stress. You can even alter your diet and eat food that can help you sleep, meditate for better sleep. Try adjusting your habits in simple ways to get better sleep as well.
Exercise frequently. Even during exam season, you should try and exercise regularly. Physical activity and exercise will help keep you healthy but the stimulation is really good for your mental well-being. When you exercise, endorphins are released into your body. These are the feel-good hormones that will make you feel lighter and happier. It’s a simple and effective way to overcome exam stress.
These are just some of the ways you can cope with exam stress. Studying smart and hard will always be important. Remember, if none of these work and you’re still under stress, we suggest seeing a professional for further guidance on reducing stress.
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