University, A Level and GCSE exams have all begun and with this period comes intense levels of stress for all students involved. I am extremely relieved to say that I have no more for the next few months, but I still can’t help but feel for those undergoing them at the moment.
Below I decided to share some tips that I find useful during exam season, and hopefully they could help my fellow students out too!
Plan your revision
Yes, you’ve probably heard it before: ‘Make a revision timetable, it really helps’. However, during exam season it is imperative that you use all the time that you have left as effectively as possible. Being able to offload all of the topics that you are aware that are most important to cover onto a piece of paper and understand that there is still time to cover them will help reduce stress immediately. You need to be honest with yourself, we are now in the midst of exams and it is impossible to cover all of the material from your course over the next couple of weeks. Prioritise your weaknesses and topics that you are not as confident with. Doing this can reduce that niggling panic in the back of your head, wondering worst case exam scenarios and not being able to complete the exam to the best of your ability.
It’s all about balance
Revise. Eat. Sleep. Chill. DO THEM ALL. Just because you have exams does not mean that you become a soulless body that lives to revise. If anything, revision in this way will have the opposite effect and can be detrimental to your grades. Continue your passions and hobbies, in my case this was reading fiction and chilling watching youtube. Get early nights so that you are able to rise early and have a productive day, without wasting any time. If you remember nothing else from this post, remember that sleeping, enjoying a nutritious meal, and chilling out is NOT wasting time. Instead, you are creating the most positive and efficient version of yourself. Equipped and ready to tackle your exams head on.
Eat well
Energy drinks are thought to help and fast food is convenient, but maintaining a bad diet during exams can be crucial to your performance. You’ve heard it all before, if you feel good in the inside then you feel good on the outside – but it’s true. Don’t get me wrong I love a burger, but during exams I stick to balanced home cooked meals by my mum, healthy snacks and water. Looking for an energy boost? Get yourself out of the house, walk to a nearby cafe, take your revision along with you and treat yourself to a coffee. Revising in a different environment aids your attention span and the fresh air will do wonders for your mindset.
These are the three main factors that I find really help me cope during exam season. Do you have any others? If so, feel free to help a fellow student out and share in the comments!
just a student ... 