Good grades, good job, good life. Exams are one of the most stressful things we must deal with at university. We stress about the revision for the exams, we stress about how/what to revise, and then we stress about the stress. It is a vicious circle that can be difficult to break free from. I for one am a HUGE stressor – it has become a life choice at this point! It cannot be avoided, but it can be limited and that’s what I will be talking about in this article. You aren’t alone!
Feeling organised
The first thing I find that helps to reduce stress, is making a clear and simple revision timetable. You must organise your time wisely, so that you can get the most out of your revision. One thing you have to keep in mind when you are making a timetable is that you have to make it accessible for yourself. There is no point loading too much into one day, because realistically you won’t get it all done. I know for me personally, if I put too many things to revise into one day, I will most likely not want to do any of it because it becomes too daunting to even look at.
Take a break
Another key thing to do to keep stress levels at bay, is to have lots of breaks! Usually having a few 10-20 minute breaks makes the whole revision process a whole lot easier. However, if you are one of those people who find it easier to revise in larger chunks of time, then go for it. Don’t change things that you already find positive for yourself, just because someone else has other ideas. Different things work for different people. Organising your time is key for studying for the exams, you must make sure that you have plenty of it to get everything you want to do, done.
Be supported
Get a hobby! There is nothing worse than having to spend all your time studying and nothing else. Having some sort of hobby stops you from curling up in a ball and crying in the university library because all you do is study and that is your life now… Find something to help you relax. You could exercise, play an instrument, read a book, listen to music or just go outside and have a breather. Studying with a friend from the same course is also a great idea because you can help each other. It is always better when you have someone to talk to, especially if they are also studying for the same exams, because you can help and guide each other. You can also speak to your tutors and other sources of help that the university offer if you are feeling too overwhelmed by it all. Try not to put yourself down, don’t quit, you can do it and if you believe you can, you are already in a better mindset to study for your exams.
Are you ready?
I hope at least one of these ideas has helped you and the exam stress. You are definitely not the only one to experience stress during the exam period. However, you can start to reduce the stress now by planning what you want to achieve from your studies. Remember to fuel your body and your brain. Sleep and food are a definite if you want to get the most from your studies. (Yes, you do have time to sleep!)
So, good luck and get revising. You’ve gotten this far don’t let stress beat you!
