Overcoming Exam Stress: Smart Study and Mindset Hacks
Exams are one of the most stressful moments of any student’s life. Preparation can help to mitigate stress to a certain degree, but then one requires various other self-care habits and time management techniques to ensure that the balance between stress and exams is maintained. Stress can be caused by the fear of failure, not studying at the right moment, high expectations of oneself, teachers, parents, etc., and lack of preparation. Stress causes anxiety and irritability, which makes it extremely difficult to concentrate and gives rise to negative thoughts; one also experiences fatigue and heartaches. In this article, we will learn some of the ways we can overcome exam stress.
Overcoming Exam Stress: Smart Study and Mindset Hacks
- Regular Learning Habits
- Optimizing Your Study Environment
- Work on Time Management
- Growth Mindset
- Work on Self-Confidence
- Focus on Physical and Mental Well-being
- Revision Tips and Others
Regular Learning Habits
The first step is to ensure that you find effective learning strategies, where you study for 30 to 50 minutes and then give yourself a small break. Check if you understand concepts and can explain those in simple terms. Constantly review information by trying to recall what you have learned after increasing intervals. Study different topics to ensure that you are working on retaining better. Use visualization to retain knowledge. Work on creating key points and summaries for the topic that you are studying.
Optimizing Your Study Environment
Ensure that where you study, you have minimum distraction. Block the social media app, as it can be quite distracting. Use natural light or proper light setup to reduce eye strain. Have a comfortable setup to ensure good posture. Work on creating an environment that helps you to focus better.
Work on Time Management
Plan a study schedule on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Prioritize topics, depending upon weightage.
Growth Mindset
The next step will be to create a positive mindset towards the exam. Turn your I cannot do it, into I am learning how to do it. View every challenge as a learning opportunity. Learn from the mistakes and identify ways to correct them. Eliminate negative thoughts and self-doubt. Work on providing positive affirmations.
Work on Self-Confidence
Self-confidence is an essential element to beat exam stress. Celebrate small achievements in your study goal. Track progress with the help of various checklists. Seek support and guidance from your teachers and peers.
Focus on Physical and Mental Well-being
Daily workout for 20 minutes, as it will help in reducing stress. Ensure that you are having a healthy and balanced diet. Sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours. Drink an adequate amount of water. Work on various relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, etc.
Revision Tips and Others
Work on your last-minute revision tips by creating flashcards and reviewing your notes. Do not push yourself to learn a new topic at the last minute. Have an exam paper strategy. Allocate time, depending on the question. Ensure that you are reading all the questions carefully. Whenever you feel a little stressed, stay calm by taking deep breaths. Stop self-criticism and self-doubt during the exam. Start with easy questions to build your confidence.
