Exam stress
Reducing exam stress
When exam season comes around, for many, that means stressful times are ahead. These tips are all ways to combat that stress and focus your energy on revision with a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to preparing for exams, and deadlines in general.
The best thing you can do is give yourself enough time to prepare. Whether it’s a deadline or an exam, they all require some preparation and leaving it until the last minute is only going to add to the pressure.
Make sure you find the revision method that suits you best. We all have different styles, some people are visual learners, and so might prefer colourful mind-maps or colour-coding their notes, while others prefer to listen back to lecture recordings. If you find the right way to learn, your revision will become that much easier.
A lack of sleep and even Insomnia is common around stressful times, particularly during exam season, but whatever sleep you can get is going to set you up for a day of revision. There are lots of herbal remedies that can help aid sleep if necessary.
Caffeine can give you a boost short term, but too much can disrupt your sleep cycle and elevate your heart rate – two components that lead to anxiety and stress, which you don’t want in exam season.
Similarly, throughout the day there are herbal remedies such as Kalms or Rescue Remedy which can alleviate symptoms like a tight chest and breathlessness. Lavender oil aromatherapy is also great if you want to relax.
Learn when to put down your pen, close your laptop and switch off your mind. An hour before bed is probably the best time for this, see family or friends if you can, or watch TV – whatever it takes to give your brain a break.
Practice mindfulness as a way to destress. It helps you focus on the moment at hand and stops you from giving too much weight to things that are out of your control (like having to sit an exam.)
Try not to ‘snowball’. Focus on the fact that, realistically, one exam is probably not going to decide the rest of your life – gain a little perspective and just focus on doing your best.
Know when normal levels of stress are becoming too much. Anxiety and depression often have roots in stress-related scenarios, so talk to family, friends or the Student Wellbeing Centre if it’s getting a bit too much. Also, the Mind charity is brilliant for mental health advice. You can contact the Mind Infoline, 9am-6pm Monday to Friday on 0300 123 3393 or text 86463.