Academic stress
Exam stress:
- Give yourself enough time to study and prepare for exams. Unpreparedness or last-minute studying or cramming can result in more stress
- Make a study plan – include all the courses you need you study for in the plan as well as other activities such as exercise, sleep, spending some time with family or friends. Finding a balance is very important in reducing stress.
- Figure out when you are most productive at studying and set that time of the day aside for studying. If you are a morning person and feel more productive in the mornings, set aside that time to study and evenings for other activities. Finding the right time to study will help you focus better, make you more productive, motivate you to be done with your study goals and still give you time for other activities.
- Find the right place and environment to study – some people like studying alone in the quiet while others like to study with the music on. Make the environment productive by making sure you have proper lighting and comfortable seating.
- Remove distractions – cell phones can be a great source of distraction. In your focused study time, remove everything that can be a source of distraction and take away your focus.
- Get enough sleep – research shows that we consolidate our memories while sleeping. Lack of sleep can result in loss of concentration and energy, irritability, affect your memory, and of course causes sleepiness taking away from your productivity.
- Set goals and reward yourself – break study tasks into realistic goals and give yourself a small reward for achieving those goals.
- Avoid using drugs, stimulants or relaxants – while these may seem effective with short-term effects, they also come with many side effects and can hinder your performance at the time of taking the exam. Instead, use meditation or mindfulness techniques to relax; exercise or take a walk to become more alert.
- Try different study strategies to help you find focus and retain information better. Try to paraphrase or summarize what you're reading, make summary notes, talk out loud when reading, go over the material with a friend, or find a study partner and set goals to motivate each other to study and achieve those goals.
- Try to keep negative thoughts away – quench them as soon as they arise. Instead of worrying about studying and getting things done – just act and get them done!
- At exam time:
- Make sure you have had something to eat and you're hydrated
- Arrive early and get acquainted with your environment
- Avoid talking to other students who may be unprepared or seem overly prepared
- Read the instructions and questions carefully and don't get stuck on any one question – revisit it later.
- Turn over the exam paper to make sure you haven't missed answering any questions.
- If you feel anxious or feel you've blanked out during the exam, put down your pen, take slow deep breaths, give yourself a minute or two before beginning again – start with what you DO know instead of thinking about what you don't. Many times, you'll notice that the rest will come to you automatically if you're prepared for it.
- Once you're done with the exam, don't worry about it and avoid discussing the exam with other students. You did the best you could and worrying about it won't help change anything. Instead, reward yourself for your effort, take a short break and prepare yourself for the next exam.
