sometimes we can get super anxious before tests, or if you’re like me you get really super anxious to the max. here are some ways to alleviate your anxiety when it comes time for tests!
don’t cram in all your studying the night before
i promise you: if you do this you will cry (or at least i do)
whenever i do this my anxiety increases way more than it would if i didn’t do this! yes, definitely study but don’t leave all of your studying for the night before! if you do, you won’t remember everything that you studied and it probably won’t really help that much
don’t stay up late
this one is pretty self explanatory but really truly don’t stay up late! you need your energy in order to do well on the exam and every time i’ve done this i got even more anxious the day of the test and it sucked…a lot.
dress for the test
be comfortable! whether you’re in sweats, joggers, a tshirt, a hoodie, whatever is most comfortable it’s really important that you aren’t uncomfortable.
one time i took the practice ACT in a dress because i had an event going on right after school and let me tell you: it was an awful mistake. i couldn’t concentrate on what i was doing because i kept focusing on how cold i was, how tight the dress was and overall how awful i felt. please be comfortable, it’s like magic and will definitely release some of the tension inside of you.
eat a good breakfast
okay so i know everyone already knows this but really, please don’t skip breakfast! even if you’re in a rush, bring something for on the go! it’s so so so important to eat breakfast before a test or really before anything!! i promise you it will make a difference in how you feel.
whenever i’m anxious the morning of a test i don’t feel up to eating anything but whenever i do it really does make a difference.
bring water
this is so important! bring water to drink during your test, slow sips of water help me with anxiety sometimes so i mean…at least give it a shot! and even if it doesn’t help with anxiety, bring water anyway! it’s always good to stay hydrated no matter what
don’t drink caffeine right before the test
oh my goodness please don’t do this unless you know caffeine doesn’t cause you to be anxious!
caffeine makes my anxiety so much worse! it definitely helps me stay awake but if you go to bed early anyway you shouldn’t really need it (that much anyway, i know i’m tired 24/7 but…still)
literally i’ve made the mistake of drinking coffee before exams many times and it was so awful i was trembling and my heart was racing and i was sweating; it was not a good time! if you’re already prone to being anxious before tests this is an important one to follow.
that’s it! if you have anymore tips you can definitely add them to this post! also, a little bit of anxiety sometimes is normal but if your anxiety is interfering with your ability to function don’t be afraid to reach out to someone - a friend, a parent, a counselor, anyone who can help you out. i wish you all the best!
