Overwhelmed by the end-of-year exam season? Power through the rest of your papers by doing these exam stress management tips and tricks!
Exams are an inevitable part of academic life, and for many students, they can be a significant source of stress and anxiety. Most of them feel pressure to do well in these, for obvious reasons!
Fortunately, with the right strategies and mindset, it’s perfectly possible to effectively manage and cope with exam stress. In this guide, we’ll explore various ways to help students handle the pressures of exams and encourage them not to give up as they approach the finish line.
Exams are an inevitable part of academic life, and for many students, they can be a significant source of stress and anxiety. Most of them feel pressure to do well in these, for obvious reasons!
Fortunately, with the right strategies and mindset, it’s perfectly possible to effectively manage and cope with exam stress. In this guide, we’ll explore various ways to help students handle the pressures of exams and encourage them not to give up as they approach the finish line.
It may seem odd, but this is actually the first step in how to deal with exam stress and anxiety. Exam stress management is much easier when you actually acknowledge that it’s necessary!
So, how should you start? Talk to someone you trust, like family and friends. Find the people you know will support you and let them encourage you while also offering a listening ear.
This can do a lot to help you feel better. Among other things, it reminds you that you don’t have to go through this all alone and thus lightens the mental load by moving some of it from your shoulders.
Another good thing about sharing this with those you trust is that you can also ask them for tips on how to cope with stress during exams. Chances are good that they’ve gone through this themselves – perhaps they can share their strategies with you!
This is related to the previous note: you have to be kind to yourself.
A lot of students actually increase their stress by focusing exclusively on exam preparation. The problem with that is that they often forget all the other things they need to tend to, including their own bodies.
You have to eat, rest, sleep, and even play to be healthy. And this affects your exam performance too, because people generally perform best in assessments when both their physical and mental health is good.
So, remember that your life outside of exams is important too. These exams are important, yes, but they’re not the end-all and be-all of your world.
Make sure you’re still eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep, doing exercise to keep fit, and relaxing when necessary. This can do a lot to keep your stress levels in check as well as keep your mind focused and fresh when you do have to study.
Finally, remember that there’s no need to feel guilty for doing this or taking some time off for yourself. You’re allowed to have a life and interests outside of studying!
People are usually stressed out when they feel very overwhelmed. So, try to find a balance to avoid that.
For example, be realistic about what you can achieve in a day. If you insist on following an unrealistic revision plan, you’re very likely to fall behind your own schedule quickly, which will just put you under unnecessary stress.
Remember that there’s no point in aiming for the impossible. Instead, work on the manageable.
A good tip for doing that is to break up your revision schedule into chunks by topic or subject. Create a daily timetable using that so that you know what to have to study and when.
This turns the task of revision into something manageable by breaking it up into smaller, easily handled tasks or pieces. It also lets you incorporate chunks of relief into your schedule, such as through breaks that let your brain rest in between sessions.
Remember not everyone studies the same way, though, so just do it the best way that works for you. Focus on yourself and don’t compare yourself to others – if it works for you, it works!
If part of the reason that you feel stressed is that people around you – like your parents or family – are putting too much pressure on you, it can help to ask them to manage expectations.
For instance, tell them what you feel able to achieve, and let them know that your expectations are different from theirs.
You could also talk to a teacher you trust about the pressure you’re under at home. If you’re one of the people putting undue pressure on yourself, remember this too: results aren’t everything
Results aren’t the only measure of success. They do not define who you are! The moment you remind yourself that there’s more to both life and yourself than your grades, you should start to feel much better.
Ultimately, while exams can be challenging, they shouldn’t make you feel so stressed that some part of your health suffers – whether that’s physical, mental, or even emotional.
Following the tips above can help you manage the pressure, but if you want more assistance, you can also get guidance from a teacher with the exam prep. At Aspire Hub, we have dedicated courses and coaches ready to give you their all.
If you need a little more help with your studying, you can reach out to us and see why so many students like you depend on our help for their exams. You can also check out our other articles for more guides relevant to you, like our guide to relaxing and recovering after exams!
