Are your exams near and you feel terrified? Did your exams just get over and you’re worried about your results? Or are they going on and you just can’t focus? It seems like exam stress just couldn’t leave you alone. Cheer up! if you can’t avoid it, you’re going to control it. How? Here is a quick read to help you tackle exam stress.
Okay, first of all, the one thing that will help you to be a little less stressed is not procrastinating and being regular with your study. Don’t leave anything for last minute. It’ll do nothing but exam stress you out even more. Apart from that, there are a couple more things you can keep in mind to not let exam stress hamper your mind from continuing to progress.
Divert your mind from the exam stress
- This is when the so-called ‘idiot box’ and smartphones who are otherwise treated as villains come to our rescue. They aren’t that bad after all. Watching a tv show or a movie helps in taking your mind on another track for a while and helps to get away with the stressful thoughts that come because of overthinking. Of course, anything in excess does no good.
- “ Why don’t I just make a movie of my own?”. Sure, you can. Go grab a book and do some light reading. Create your characters, pause, play and replay at your leisure. Go wild with your imagination.
- Going down to play not only helps you be fit and active but also helps rejuvenate your mind and feel more lively. It is rightly said, “only study and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.
- Are you a foodie? Go grab some pizza. No, don’t call for it. Go there. A change of ambience will lift your mood.
- Not in a mood for some pizza? we aren’t out of options yet. Are you good at baking? Make granny some cake! You will get a break from your daily routine and some appreciation and love from your beloved grandmother. It’ll make you feel confident and motivate you towards doing your best at studying as well.
- Do you like singing or dancing? Go ahead and sing or dance your heart out. Release that negative energy in whichever way possible.
- “I Love jamming to Bollywood songs?”, “umm more of a Hollywood person, I guess”, “ Nahh, Kpop is the best”. Whichever it is, music is sure to get your mind out of it’s deepest and darkest thoughts.
Clear the clutter
- Diverting your mind doesn’t help? No worries. Organize yourself. Some wise old man once said, “ a clean desk is a clean mind”. Removing unwanted things from your room and the place you study will help you feel more light and clean. Don’t pile up books that you are not going to refer unnecessarily. Instead, keep less matter to read but read that thoroughly. You must have heard of quality is better than quantity. Well, it’s true.
- Clearing the clutter doesn’t only refer to your desk and room. It also refers to your mind. Watch a few motivational videos and tips on studying. A renowned reference for the same is Jim Kwik.
Get some rest and peace of mind
- The most effective way of having peace with your mind is none but meditation. Deep periodic breathing with a focus on nothing else around you is a quick way of being calm. Soothing music by the side adds to the relaxation.
- To have a longer time being at ease, Switch on that geyser and get a bubble bath. Having done that, put on your favourite pair of pyjamas and get some sleep. You will forget everything for time being and ride in your world of imagination where you jump from one dream to another and witness scenarios that are never going to happen. Truly a mood changer.
Exercise the Exam Stress Away!
- For your physical exercise, you have a list of things you can do starting from neck rotations, stretching, crunches, push-ups, yoga, or going to the gym and the list goes on. This helps you perspire and gives a cooling effect to your body which makes it feel at ease.
- There are various pressure points which on being massaged release tension in particular body parts and also help the internal functioning of the organs and hormone system better which in turn impacts your mood.
- Apart from your physical exercise and pressure points, there is something called a brain gym. Further research on this will show you how the exercises under it help you increase your concentration, focus and retaining power which will make you feel satisfied and productive when you study and hence, make you feel less pressured.
People
- Avoid people. Of course, not everyone but people whose talks make you feel stressed out. They might only intend to share their feelings with you which is fine. But unknowingly they are transferring their feelings to you. This is not acceptable. Their talks make you compare your study pattern with theirs and makes your efforts seem less which is not true. Everyone has a different way of preparing.
- If it is too much to take, talk it out. Don’t ever forget, your family always has your back. If there is something that is bothering you, try to seek some help or advice. Don’t fear them judging you or feeling disappointed in you. They love you and will go to all possible limits to help you out. Don’t let the exam stress of one issue hamper your progress in something else.
Above all, love, trust and believe in yourself. You are a strong and ambitious soul for whom exam stress should be considered as a phase of life which will pass. I hope you found this helpful and wish you the best of luck for everything that life is yet to offer you.
Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author of this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Uniform Application or the official policies of Edunify.