Tips to Reduce Exam Stress

Handling exam stress is not only about studies and exam preparation. It is also about self belief and taking small steps to overcome problems. Students can fail to do well if they fail to cope with stress. Exams are not life-threatening, yet we treat them like they are. See the lighter side of life, do the best that you can. Parents should guide their children in planning. Parents must provide right kind of motivation and a conductive environment.

* Make a revision plan or timetable. Doing so will help you prioritize your work. But be realistic!

* If you can concentrate well in the morning then do most of your studying before lunch, not late at night when you can’t concentrate. If you can study at night then study at later half of the day, but go to bed at reasonable hour and get enough sleep.

* If you really cannot concentrate it may be because you are tired, hungry, or just bored. Take a break and come back to it 10 minutes later. Short bursts of concentrated revision are often better than hours of staring at the same page.

* Stay away from distractions that could cause loss of concentration or unwanted anxiety. Stick to activities that do not break your study continuum. Make sure you spend some time relaxing and having fun.

* Spend time with people who have a positive effect. Avoid negative thoughts.

* Study always in quiet area away from noises and people in the house. Make sure your desk is tidy and organized as it will enable you to find all relevant information at one place instead of searching all over the house.

* Write down key concepts you have learned on small sheets and paste them around your house.

* Keep your mind focused on what you are studying in that moment, avoid multi-tasking or studying multiple subjects at the same time.

* The quickest and most effective way of elimination stress is to shut down your eyes and take deep breaths.

* Avoiding foods with large amounts of sugar, eat a breakfast that is high in protein, eat green veggies at lunch and dinner, and drink mint tea throughout the day instead of coffee.

* Get yourself outside and spend some time in nature. Being in nature is a simple and effective way of decreasing stress and increasing your focus which will help you when you return to the books.

* Study to learn, not for high marks – Avoid focusing on the end result, and what grade you need to get on the exam while you are studying. Education is about learning; if you put your focus on the experience of learning, then the pressure to achieve a certain result diminishes. As pressure diminishes, productivity increases.

Hence to be in a position to write the exam in a focused manner you have to be alert and that will not happen if you have up all night panicking and constantly wondering if you will finish your portion. So start your studies well in advance to ensure that you just have to flip through your books and familiarize yourself with important points at the last minute.

So exams when taken with a calm and composed mind can be easy.