A little stress can be beneficial because it can provide the motivation we need to complete tasks. However, dealing with stress is not always easy (especially during exam season). And, with an estimated 20-50% increase in university students seeking help for study-related mental health issues each year, it is clear that we are under more pressure than ever before. So, here are seven tips to help you to overcome study stress during the exam period.
Even students also have stress about completing their assignments on time, but no more stress now because there are many assignment writing help services.
How Does Stress Affect Exam Preparation?
At this point, you are probably very aware of how elevated levels of stress can really affect mental and physical well-being. Relating to studying for an exam, stress can inhibit the ability to focus, disrupt recollection or even develop memory loss, and cause burnout; these effects can easily overcome your efforts toward OMS board certification.
It is very important to recognize and deal with stress early so that the best exam performance can be achieved without being affected by a lack of effective study habits.
How do I know if I am stressed while studying for my exam?
The way that stress manifests in each person is unique, but knowing what your warning signs are will enable you to take early action before these negative impacts become worse:
- Learn to recognize your personal stress cues. You might become irritable, sleep more or less than normal, cease to eat or eat too much or feel headaches and muscle tension.
- Monitor changes in your mental health. For most of the candidates, the pressure of long periods of studying may become overwhelming at times and may trigger anxiety or depression.
- You can evaluate your ability to study. Stress may also lead to poor study skills if you are unable to concentrate during the study period, remember all the information you learn, or even stay motivated in the face of your study time.
Once you know how you feel about your stress, you are better placed to plan how best you can manage your stress while studying to prepare for your examinations. Plus, you can ask assignment help nz during exam time to manage and manage coursework then you can fully concentrate on your exams.
Tips to Manage Study Stress During Exams
1. Remember to breathe
Setting aside a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness techniques, such as breathing exercises or UCL’s 10 Minute Mind, allows you to reduce your body’s stress response and return your attention to the present moment. As a result, you have more time to rationally think through your anxieties, break free from negative thought patterns, and deal with a large number of exams while beginning more effective revision.
2. Eat, sleep, and exercise properly
Pulling all-nighters, eating poorly, and getting little exercise during the day can all exacerbate anxiety symptoms. To optimize your body’s performance, get 8/9 hours of sleep, enough slow-release carbs, less caffeine, and more water, and at least half an hour of exercise per day.
3. Set realistic goals
Setting realistic goals, whether you have many weeks, days or hours until your exam, allows you to put everything into perspective. Acceptance of your situation and working within the ability of what you have maximises your productivity without the risk of burning yourself out.
4. Don’t do it alone
In 2004, a research paper published in Linguistics and Education found that revising with peers is an effective study technique because it allows people to better absorb their own notes. Plus, the emotional benefits of social support typically to include a better sense of confidence and autonomy.
5. Pace yourself over panic
Panic strikes in the minds of students attending universities before, during or even after sitting for an exam. Well, if you catch a panic attack at any one of these stages, breathe in six times, drink, then revisit the task at hand and ensure that you break it into several pieces to handle one at a time. Remember, there is always a logical solution to every problem, no matter how elusive it might appear to you.
6. Believe in yourself
When we are constantly facing new challenges, sometimes we forget as to how much ground we have covered and how much we have achieved so far. Since you have prepared well, there should not be any reason to worry. Therefore, when you get a negative thought, just try to replace it with a positive one. For example, instead of thinking ‘If I don’t get at least a 2:1, I am a failure’, think ‘Whatever I get, I will be proud of myself and value how much I have already achieved’. You can do this!
7. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or you simply feel that you’re not doing well, talk about it to someone
It is never ashamed to ask for help; in its most extreme manifestations, it can save a life. Talk to your friends, relatives, or personal tutor about how you feel when you have a hard time. Otherwise, you’re not afraid to look for professional assistance and counselling.
8. Do not compare yourself
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy”, and exam season is that time when one must remind oneself of it the most. Do not compare yourself with others by looking around and seeing them study longer, knowing the material better, or even seeming more relaxed than you. You don’t know what other people are really feeling, and what may work for them may not work out the same for you. You know what’s going to get you through your exams better than someone else, and comparing yourself to other people is just only going to set you up to feel unhappy about yourself.
Final Words
Never forget that exams are just a small amount of time, and they’re never a measurement of your achievement. Expert services or professors will take good care of you during your study time. You can find more details about the support they offer their students’ wellbeing by visiting the online and university support hub.