Being mindful about our emotions is one of the best ways to tackle the negative feelings that can occur during exams. It helps us manage our anxiety around them and understand when to give ourselves a rest.
These are some of our best tips for juggling studying and exam stress:
- Find a study buddy to keep you company. You can even quiz each other on the material, which turns studying into a fun game and means you get to hang out with a friend!
- Pace yourself! If you try to force a marathon revision session to cram everything, you will never get it done! Stick to small chunks of revision with set goals. Always reward yourself with regular breaks to give your mind a rest and to make sure everything you learnt sinks in!
- Read something new on the subject, don’t just keep rereading the same texts that you fall asleep to!
- When planning your timetable and to-do list, don’t just write ‘revise’. Be specific on exactly what you need to revise that day, with a few key objectives (for example ‘read page 1-10’) that you can tick off as you go. That way you don’t miss anything and when it comes to the exam you can look back at all those ticks you added for reassurance!
- Make it fun! Turning your revision into a positive experience can help to reduce your worries before exams. Why not try turning your notes into a catchy song, getting creative with your mind maps and flashcards or making a game out of your revision questions?
Remember, rest and self-care looks different for everyone so it’s important to learn what works for you! If exams start to feel overwhelming, that’s a strong sign you need to take a break and allow yourself to rest. Sometimes looking after ourselves is as simple as taking a moment to reflect on our feelings and breathe.
Check out our Mental Health Awareness Week page for more tips and resources to help you to better understand and support your mental health.
