Students feel so much pressure in the run up to their exams and it can have a real impact on their mental health. Now don’t get me wrong a certain amount of stress is good but if it goes to far it can actually have a negative impact on performance.
So the key is to find the balance. Enough exam stress to get the benefits of increased cognitive function but not so much that it causes overwhelm and burnout.
Sound like it’s impossible? We’ve got some ideas to help.
Plan!
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, planning your revision is so important! It takes out the “what should I do next?” and the feeling of overwhelm from the sheer amount of content. You’ve got the plan so you just take it one chunk at a time.
Take a break
It’s only a couple of months and yes your main focus is now going to be on the exams, you may have paused some of your hobbies and that’s ok but make sure you plan in little breaks into your revision. This gives your brain time to rest and absorb the revision you’ve been doing.
It might be a quick walk around the block, 30 minutes of your favourite show, 30 minutes on a game, whatever will let your brain rest a little.
Get fresh air
If the weather was better, I would suggest working outside but as we’re in the UK that might not be an option. But try to find ways to get outside each day. It’s tempting (and I do it too) to get your head down and stuck into your work and before you know it days have passed and you haven’t left the house. It’s not good for us so try to find that time to get out, it will help you reset.
Be kind to yourself
It’s so easy when you are stressed and overwhelmed to be really negative and hard on yourself. Spend some time being kind to yourself, write a list of everything you’ve already achieved, journal the things you are good at, revise the subjects you are good at as well as the ones you are struggling with.
Talk
Ok so you’ve probably heard the stuffy grown-ups say the cliché “a problem shared is a problem halved” but it is so true! Talking about how we feel actually does help. They might have ideas to help or might be able to support you putting some of these ideas in place or it might just be saying it out loud takes away the “power” of the stress.
There is a bit of a caveat with this one though, if you are trying to talk to a friend who is also stressed be careful not to stress them out more or turn it all into a negative spiral, it might be best to try talking to someone who isn’t feeling the same stress themselves.
If you feel like the pressure is coming from others talking is going to be especially important, try to explain to them about how their words or actions are making you feel. I can almost guarantee they are trying to help so can they use different words, act in a different way to help you maintain the “good” stress and minimise the “bad” stress.
Don’t compare
Ok, so this one might be the hardest one but is probably going to have the biggest impact.
YOU are sitting YOUR exams, for YOUR results.
Think about your goals and what you want to achieve, it might be more than your friend or less than your friend and that’s ok! But what your goal is will determine how much you need to work and knowing what you’re aiming for will increase your motivation, helping you maintain the “good” stress.
Eat and sleep
Obvious? Maybe, but just like getting outside it is easy to fall into the trap of continually working and grabbing easy food and staying up late to fit in more revision or the fun after revision. Make sure you are eating balanced meals and getting a decent night’s sleep, it will help your brain cope with the additional stress during this period.
