Top Ways To Deal With Exam Stress

With exams right around the corner, it is quite easy for the aspirants to get overwhelmed with a vast syllabus meant to be completed on time, followed by a time crunch between social life & studies and uninvited peer pressure. Although it is normal to have cold feet during exam season, extreme stress and anxiety can affect physical & mental health, leading to depression. 

If you also have an exam coming up soon, here we’re sharing a few exam stress management strategies to help you reduce stress during exams and prepare without distractions.

Effective Tips To Keep Your Mental Health in Check During Exams

“How to overcome the stress of an exam?” It is one of the most common queries aspirants raise as the exams approach. It is a phase when they start losing confidence or depriving themselves of enough sleep, which can cause serious personal, emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues.  

Here are a few tips you can follow to reduce your stress during exams. Check it out:

1. Start Early, Finish Early

You must’ve heard, “Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be all day hunting for it.” The same applies to your academic life when exam season is coming up, and you’re running out of time. Many students cope with this time crunch by cramming the syllabus but often can’t retain as much information as they lack in the concepts. So, start your day early by saving yourself from this time crunch and cramming. It will give you increased hours & peace of mind to prepare for the exams.

2. Don’t Start Randomly - Schedule Things & Set Goals 

One of the valuable tips to reduce stress during exams is to make a study plan and follow it. You’ll get much more control over your study hours and track down your progress throughout the preparation. Remember, time management can make or spoil your goals. List all the subjects/topics/chapters and allow sufficient time to complete the syllabus. Keep your goals realistic, like weekly, daily or monthly. Manage separate hours for revision, daily activities, and breaks.

3. Declutter Your Desk

One crucial exam stress management strategy is to keep the study space clean, decluttered & organized. So many students often rush to complete chapters during exams and often study in a messed-up spot surrounded by scattered books. It distracts & overloads their mind, diminishing their ability to focus. So, always organize your study area & notice the results.

4. Group Study for Increased Productivity

Exam season can be less frustrating & anxious when you’re facing it in the company of like-minded ones, i.e., your classmates. Group study is the most common yet effective method that not only helps cope with stress but also enables us to process information faster & retain it for longer. In addition, you feel motivated by sharing your doubts or resolving others’.

5. Don’t Suffer in Silence. Ask for Help

Are you feeling a lot of pressure & stress during exams? Talking about it with your friends or family is one of the best ways to cope effectively with exam pressure. Your mental health must be your priority, especially during exam seasons. If you’re having trouble handling your stress or feeling overloaded with it, talk about it. It will help you feel relieved and lightened. If you aren’t comfortable talking to someone close to you, you can consult a counsellor or a therapist also.

6. Don’t Reach for Junk Food. Eat Healthy

We know how convenient it is to skip food or eat unhealthy diets like Pizzas or burgers to gain instant energy after being drained out from constant hours of study. But it is not good for your physical as well as mental health. You may end up feeling dizzy & tired. Try to make time for proper & healthy meals to keep yourself active. Don’t skip your food; drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.

7. Breaks Aren’t Optional. They’re Compulsory

Taking sufficient breaks between studies is one of the most essential exam stress management strategies. Many aspirants often ignore breaks and consider them time-wasting. Studies show that taking productive breaks of 10-15 minutes between every hour of study can significantly lift your mood, increase productivity, and prepare your mind to focus. It doesn’t mean scrolling on your phones or watching movies. You can go for a walk, meditate or talk to your friends.

8. Do Exercise, Yoga, or Meditate

An active mind & body is essential to focused study, but considering the distractions in our lives, it is often daunting for students to concentrate on their studies. The best idea is to try meditation, Yoga, or any form of exercise such as walking, jogging, aerobics, etc. It will help you release stress, and you will feel energetic & recharged.

9. Take a Restful Sleep

It is common for students to lack sleep properly, which results in increased mood swings and frustration. So how to overcome the stress of an exam”? Try to get adequate sleep of seven to nine hours during exams. It helps improve concentration, productivity, and cognition.

10. Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

Last but not least, getting influenced by other peoples’ approaches or feeling low seeing their level of preparation is the foremost reason behind stopping putting effort and doubting your preparations. You need to stop comparing yourself with others right now and focus on what you’re doing. Just believe in yourself and think positively.

Wrapping Up

These are a few exam stress management strategies that can help students to handle stress & prioritize their mental health during exam season. The journey to achieve your academic goals might be complex & stressful, but you aren’t alone. Following these tips will help you deal with exam stress and keep your mental health in check.