Best Ways To Deal With Exam Stress
From the moment you step into your classroom to the last time you walk out, your life is filled with stress. And if you’re like most students, stress comes with a bunch of negative feelings. In fact, one recent study found that students who had higher stress levels also had lower self-confidence and self-worth.
- Are you stressed and in need of a break?
- Do you feel like you have to cram for your final exams and are worried about the stress it will be putting on your body?
With exam stress, you may feel confused and overwhelmed, like you're drowning in worry. Exam stress can cause some of the most serious health issues including headaches, nausea, mood swings, anxiety, and low-self esteem.
Exams are stressful. All the studying, pressure, and cramming for tests really take a toll on your mental health. If you're feeling stressed or want to help yourself overcome exam stress, try some of these tips: Examine your behaviour and your surroundings. Are you in the right environment?
Do you need more time to study? Do you need support? Take breaks throughout the day, even if it's just for 5 minutes at a time. Take deep breaths and do something that makes you happy. Sometimes we can get so caught up in our work that we forget about ourselves. But taking time out for yourself can make all the difference.
It's back to school time and that means it's time to start studying. Studying can be stressful, especially when you're cramming all of your best skills into one semester. But remember, there are ways to prevent exam stress…
- Take breaks throughout the day
- Delegate homework
- Don't overthink
- Don't forget to eat!
You may be thinking that now is the time to take care of your health and start exercising. However, for many people, studying for an exam is a daunting task. Exams are stressful, which can lead to physical and mental problems. If you're an individual who feels the need to study for hours on end and then cram all night on the night before the exam, you might feel like you're going crazy. It's important to keep in mind that there are ways to deal with more manageable stress during exams so that you can concentrate better on what's most important: getting a good grade.
Exam stress affects most students in varying ways. It is important to manage this stress and find little ways of helping to eliminate the risk of burnout. For some students, exams can be a breeze; revision is second nature to them and they could ace an exam with their eyes closed. But for others, sweaty palms and heart palpitations are just a part of the territory, and it seems that nothing is more impossible than sitting down and revising.
Ah, that old familiar knot in your stomach that tells you exams are looming. While some people like to believe a bit of anxiety and pressure can be beneficial around exam time, science suggests otherwise. When we're stressed, our brains release high levels of cortisol which can cloud the way we think and get in the way of rational thoughts. Because of this, it's important to stay as cool, calm and collected as you can during the exam period.
Prioritizing your time, subjects and workload will help reduce your anxiety levels, as you'll be able to ensure that the really important stuff is covered – and at the right time. If you've got more than one exam to tackle, draw out a simple diagram with the dates of each exam and how many topics need covering for each.
This will give you a clear idea of how much time you need to dedicate to each exam topic and when you need to get started on your revision, so there won't be any nasty surprises. As you progress through your revision, tick off the topics that you've completed – this will give you a small sense of achievement, knowing that you've finished something and are making your way to the finish line.
What Is Exam Stress?
Exam stress is the uncomfortable feeling you experience when you know that you have to study for long hours and not get enough sleep. It can lead to anxiety, depression and even insomnia. One of the best ways to combat exam stress is by practicing relaxation techniques.
There are a number of different relaxation techniques that will help you relax and focus on your exam while still being able to perform well in the exam. Relaxation techniques are simple but effective ways of managing tension, anxiety and stress. For example, a quick facial massage can help relieve your body's feelings of tension as it helps ease circulation throughout your face.
You might also find it helpful to breathe slowly, keeping your mind focused on something else other than worrying about how much time you have left until the exam begins. Another technique is visualization—visualizing yourself succeeding in an exam may help you feel better about studying for the test. So try imagining yourself getting through the entire test and getting a good mark.
Exam stress is a term used to describe the mental and physical strain caused by studying for an exam. This stress can be caused by pressure, anxiety and even boredom. Whether you're cramming for a test, studying for your tests or preparing yourself to take exams, there are some strategies that will help you with your exam stress.
Several studies have shown that students who feel anxious before an exam often perform worse on the test itself. You can also overcome stress by looking at the situation objectively. If you're feeling restless, nervous or bored because of your exam schedule, try changing your practice schedule so that you can study more during each day.
7 Best Ways To Deal With Exam Stress
The first step is to find a way to focus on the exam without straining yourself. One great way to do this is by setting up a reminder system. Say you have 20 minutes to study for an exam and want to get through it as quickly as possible.
- Set your timer, so that you know exactly how much time you're allowed to study.
- Once you've completed your allotted time, review what you've learned and decided whether or not it's worth completing the rest of the chapter. If not, set your timer back down and move on to the next section.
When you're studying for an exam, it's important to keep in mind that learning can be stressful as well. There are many different types of stressors that go along with studying for an exam. It can cause you a lot of anxiety, which is why it's important to have a plan to deal with them.
The longer you study, the more anxiety and stress you'll experience. Therefore, it's crucial that you try not to focus on what's going wrong or how you're doing instead of trying to get rid of the stress so that you can relax and focus on the task at hand.
A good way to deal with exam stress is by getting plenty of rest, eating right and drinking enough water. If you experience tiredness throughout the day, drink water rather than alcohol or caffeinated drinks as they dehydrate your body too quickly. Don't eat enough food or take in too much caffeine either as this could lead to headaches and sleepiness.
1. Mental Preparation
Before going to class, do some mental prep work. If you can't study in your own time, at least write down the things that are most important to you. For example: If I'm studying for a test and I'm worried about not getting a good grade, I might say to myself, “I need to concentrate on my grades today.”
Use your time wisely. Research the material you need to study. Set a timer and plan ahead for what you need to do. You can use a whiteboard, notebook or electronic device like an iPad. By having this type of guide in your pocket, you'll be able to access your notes and find the information most relevant when it's needed.
Don't procrastinate! The longer you wait before studying, the more stress and anxiety you'll feel when you finally take a test. Procrastinate, but don't procrastinate too much! Give yourself credit for trying to do well in class or work on other things that will help prepare for your exam.
2. Physical Preparation
Wear comfortable clothes. A good pair of shoes and a lightweight jacket will help keep you warm. The temperature outside can be cold, so it's best to wear layers of clothing to keep you warm when the exam begins.
Bring snacks and drinks with you. Don't forget your water bottle! Be sure to drink plenty of fluids before and during the exam so that you stay hydrated throughout the day.
Take frequent breaks during the exam and get some fresh air. Take a walk or do something relaxing like read a book or listen to music for a few minutes before needing to arrive at your seat at an hour-and-a-half mark to start studying for the test.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol after 8 p.m., as these substances reduce alertness and sleepiness, which can lead to drowsiness, which is detrimental to your performance in the classroom.
Before you begin studying, it's important that you make sure that your body is in prime physical condition. Staying in shape will help your mind focus on exam-related details and will help you feel better physically. To get yourself in peak shape, eat right and exercise daily. To achieve optimal health and wellness, follow these tips:
- Fill up on fruits and vegetables at least two times a day. Fruits and vegetables include strawberries, apples, mangoes, carrots and many others. You'll be surprised at how big your waist will fill up with fresh fruit! They are also rich sources of vitamins A and C as well as potassium which means they're great for keeping blood pressure low (and therefore less likely to cause heart problems).
- Reduce sodium intake by about 50 percent by not eating fried or processed foods regularly or consuming foods with high sodium content such as French fries or pizza crusts. You'll also want to avoid sodas and alcoholic beverages which have added chemicals that can lead to high blood pressure.
- Get plenty of sleep each night so that you can wake up energized and ready to study
3. Relaxation Techniques
As soon as you get home, get out of your work clothes and go to a quiet place where you can calm down. Take a hot bath, lay on the couch, or take a brisk walk outside. You could also take a break from physical activities like aerobics or jogging.
In addition to taking a break, it's also important to plan for the exam. For example, if you're going to study for an exam in class, be sure to make sure that your friends don't know what you're doing during class time. They'll probably have other things on their minds and won't pay attention as much as you do.
First, it's important to mind your breathing. The best way to reduce stress is to use relaxation techniques, like deep breathing exercises or yoga. You can also use your imagination. Imagine the exam room: It'll help you relax.
4. Eat Right
Eating well and avoiding junk food, sugary drinks and fast foods can help you study better. Keep in mind that the best way to deal with stress is by eating healthy. Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables are helpful, as are omega-3 fatty acids from fish or walnuts. Good nutrition will also make you feel great throughout your exam.
In the past, eating healthy was something that was taken for granted. In fact, there was a time when only the rich could afford to eat well. Nowadays, we know that a healthy diet is an essential part of living a happy life. A small amount of exercise can help keep you fit and healthy. It's also important to avoid too much stress. This can ruin your health and lead to depression and other mental problems. So make sure you eat right and exercise regularly.
5. Studying The Right Way
Exams are stressful for many people. You need to study to do well on your tests and get a good grade. A strong concentration is essential to achieve that goal. To help you concentrate, exercise may be one of the best ways to relieve stress from exams.
In fact, studies show that getting physical exercise will improve your ability to concentrate, which will help you do better on the exam. Exercise also naturally relaxes you, which means it can be helpful when studying for an exam. Exercise releases endorphins which reduce your stress levels and make you more relaxed.
Studying for an exam is stressful enough. But if it's not done properly, you can end up with mental and physical problems. You'll be better served if you study the right way. Here are three things to remember when studying for exams:
- Don't study too much at once, as this will make your mind and body slow down;
- To really focus on what you want to learn, it's best to select one thing you want to know and read that material over again;
- If you're cramming a lot of information into small intervals of time, don't worry about getting everything there on your first attempt. After all, you only need a certain amount of information right now to finish the task.
6. Sleep Well
“Two hours of sleep every night is enough. Don't go to sleep in the middle of the night, make sure you're well-rested and get up early.” Sleep deprivation can lead to stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact your performance on an exam. So here are some tips for sleeping well:
Sleep In The Same Bed As Your Roommate
You may think this is counter-intuitive, but it's actually a good idea if you're studying for an exam. If you do so, you'll be able to conserve energy and maintain quality sleep over the long haul.
Have A Regular Routine
A routine ensures that you have a clear schedule for waking up and starting your day—you know exactly when you must wake up each day. This will allow your body to properly adjust to its new routine and ensure that everything works as it should on that particular day.
Try Not To Multitask While Studying
Multitasking will only mess with your concentration and memory, depending on how much detail each task requires. Try not to multitask while studying so that you can focus completely on what's important: getting a good grade.
Get enough sleep. If you're going to study for a long period of time, this is especially important. You don't want to fall asleep during the exam and miss any important information that might help you get a good grade!
Keep your cell phone off while studying. This will reduce the number of distractions so that you can focus on what's most important and provide yourself with a little extra time during the exam to complete an important task.
Examine each question one by one until it's done. Don't rush through questions—you want to make sure you answer them all in order as they appear on the test.
Don't skip questions unless it's really crucial to your performance or if at least 50 percent of your questions are incorrect. This will prevent you from getting careless and not hitting all the answers quickly enough because you're trying to hurry through them all quickly.
7. Exercise
This may sound like a no-brainer, but exercise can lead to improved stress levels and decreased anxiety. Exercise is not only good for the body, but it can also improve your mood. It's also important to consider that physical activity has a positive impact on your focus and concentration at the same time. So if you're studying for an exam, take advantage of this by exercising as well.
Exercising can help you relieve stress. Exercise is a great way to reduce anxiety and improve your mind, body and spirit. Exercise helps to increase flexibility as well as concentration; it's an amazing way to increase your mental clarity. When you're stressed, you may find it difficult to concentrate, but exercise will help focus on your studies. Exercise can also be an effective way to sleep better, which is especially helpful when studying for late-night exams or tests.
Conclusion
If you're planning on studying for an exam, it's important to remember that exams are a major part of your life. Taking them seriously will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed by the stress of the exam itself and make sure that you're able to focus well on what's most important: your grade.
Here are a few tips to help ease your exam stress:
- Put aside time upfront – If possible, set aside at least 2 hours before the exam to study for it. This will give you enough time to review the material and create a plan so that you know exactly what you need to do in order to ace the test. Also, this will give you time before the actual day of the test so that you can prepare yourself mentally and emotionally. This helps ensure that when the actual exam comes around, you're fully prepared and focused on getting the best grade possible.
- Be prepared – It may sound counterintuitive but making sure that you have all your notes and materials ahead of time can be very helpful if it means avoiding procrastination. It allows you to pre-prepare with fresh ideas during difficult times when others may find themselves unable or unwilling to devote adequate concentration because they're too distracted by their own problems.
You may feel like you're going crazy because of the pressure to get a good grade on your exam. However, it's important to remember that stress is normal during an exam. In fact, a study by the Mayo Clinic found that more than half of students experience an increase in cortisol levels (a hormone associated with stress) after taking a test. Studies have shown that if you don't deal with exam stress effectively, your next step could be quitting school.
I trust you enjoyed this article about the 7 Best Ways To Deal With Exam Stress. Please stay tuned for more blog posts to come shortly.
JeannetteZ
>>>Please click here to read my all-inclusive article about Lessons That Will Teach You All About Stress<<<
>>>Are you interested in Natural Healing And Stress Relief through Herbs? Please click here for my #1 Recommendation<<<
Your Opinion Is Important To Me
Thoughts? Ideas? Questions? I would love to hear from you. Please leave me your questions, experience, and remarks about this article on the 7 Best Ways To Deal With Exam Stress in the comments section below. You can also reach me by email at Jeannette@Close-To-Nature.org.
Disclosure
This post may contain affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate and other affiliate programs. Please read my full affiliate disclosure.
You might also enjoy these blog posts:
13 Best Simple Ways To Deal With Stress At Work
12 Best Tea Brands For Stress Relief
What Helps A Stress Headache Naturally?
Top Tips To Reduce Stress For Your Horse