How to beat exam stress?
A majority of students have to regularly face drilling examinations as benchmarks of their learning assessment. Without sufficient ways and means to let out the steam, the exam-time pressure build up can create distorted visions of life in general with the focus on escapist attitude. This can further lead to depression and further anxiety. However, the good news is that there are some tried and tested formulas to beat exam stress and come out with flying colours.
Breathe, and Focus on the Big Picture
Focus on the big picture with constant reminders of how all this hard work put in for the current semester exam will contribute towards the realization of your bigger goal of completing the degree/diploma course in the long run. Think about how getting a nice score now in the Internal Examinations will fast-track your academic paces on its way to a successful corporate/entrepreneurship career ahead.
Exercise, and Say No to Junk Food
Eat healthily and avoid munching on junk food as much as possible, with a focus on sugar-free diet as sugar-lows hit fast and hard. Increase your brain power with exercise (be it a gym work-out or routine running/jogging/walking regimen) as it is a good way to release your happy hormones (“endorphins”). Getting your necessary beauty sleep hours is also a mandate during exam time to beat stress. Nibble on that much-needed dark chocolate, you have earned it now!
Prioritise Time, Manage To-Do List and Plan Study Maps
Less worrying helps even in the time-deficit period to organize study topics as per levels of difficulty with a check-list to mark the closure of each topic allotted to the drawn-up schedule. Focus should be more on understanding concepts rather than learning by rote for better retention at exam hall.
The constant pressure put in by friends, parents as well as teachers to outshine peers and outperform in exams can get in the way of normal functioning in the daily lives of the students. However, organising study materials, time-management for separate topics, sufficient time-outs / study breaks, teaming up with a study-buddy for concept clarity along with a bit of exercise drill and music therapy thrown in can go along way to beat your stress hormone (”cortisol”) build-up during exam time.