De-Stress During Exams

Studying for the exams can be quite stressful, especially if the exams are near. Some students have a habit of neglecting their work all through the semester and studying only a week or so before the exams. I can’t blame or judge them because I used to be like that. By the time I was doing my masters I had more or less overcome this habit. I taught myself to be more disciplined.

If you want to excel at your studies then the first thing you need to do is to organize your study area and your notes. Wherever it is that you study keep it clean and free from clutter. This will help you to feel good and thus concentrate better. Put away your class notes and the ones you worked on yourself neatly and systematically. This will save a lot of time and energy that you spend on looking for bits of paper. Make a separate folder for each of your subjects or courses and put all your notes in it chapter by chapter.

In my opinion the best time to study is early in the morning because that is when your mind is really fresh and can take in much more then at any other time during the day. Make yourself a cup of tea or have a light breakfast, take some deep breaths and get to work.

Please don’t leave your studies for the day before the exams. This day should be reserved only for revision of the topics you already went through. Same is true for any projects or assignments that you have. You should at least start thinking about your assignment the day it is handed out. I know it is difficult to do that since you have more then a month before it is due. But trust me if you set a quota for yourself meaning the amount of work that you must do in a day or a week and stick to it, you will be much happier by the end result and so will be your teacher or professor.

Probably you have heard all this before but just can’t implement it. You see as long as you continue to think about your studies as a chore, something that you have to do and not something that you want to do you will continue to procrastinate. The key to success and getting good grades is getting interested in what you are studying. I know sometimes what you have to study can be quite boring but this is the time to use your imagination. For example if you are trying to go through some complicated theory, think that you are the one who thought it and introduced it to the world and that you are the brains behind it. Now imagine that you are going to hold a press conference about this theory of yours in which you have to explain it and maybe answer a few questions about it. Make it an exciting scenario. This way you will find it easier and fun to study even a dry topic.

De-stressing on the exam day

Now let’s talk about the exam day. If you have been tired from studying the night before and feel stressed or worried try this. Take some deep breaths. Relax your muscles and close your eyes. Visualize yourself coming out of the exam room with a smile on your face, with a feeling of a job well done. All great metaphysical authors agree that imagination or visualization is highly effective in manifesting the desired results. The brain identifies no difference between what is imagined and what is reality. You can get your mind and body working very positively by thinking about the best possible outcome.

Your thoughts play a significant part in shaping what you go through in life. If you say to yourself, “I hope I don’t fail”, then you are focusing on failing. Remember law of attraction brings to you what you focus on or give importance to. It is much better to use positive words. Say to yourself, “I will pass”. This sends a positive message to your mind and the law of attraction brings you what you want rather then what you don’t want. When you face a situation with confidence and optimism you are much more likely to succeed.

Another exercise that you can do whenever you need an energy boost and de-stress is to shake your whole body. You might find this funny and it is but it is also quite effective. This is how you do it. Stand up in a relaxed way. Raise your arms at the side, bent at the elbows and shake your entire body. Have you seen a wet dog and how it dries itself by shaking? Do like that. Shaking yourself up and down will energize you. This energy flow will replace any fatigue that you feel. Don’t forget to smile when you do this exercise. It has been found that smiling releases endorphins that boost the immune system and stimulates the brain.

Never go to an exam with an empty stomach. Have a well balanced breakfast but nothing too heavy. Lastly always trust and believe in yourself. Don’t let the exams or anything else for that matter, stress you out. Study well, do the best you can and everything else will work itself out.

If your results are not what you expected or wanted, instead of complaining or moping around move forward with a strong will. Learn to take something out of every experience. This is the way to advance yourself and to gain access to your inner wisdom. As often as you can, say to yourself, “Every day in every way I am getting better and better”. Never loose sight of what you want to achieve. Let nothing discourage you. Keep marching forward with invincible determination and mark my words, “You will make it”.

By the way here is another interesting stress management activity!

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