6 Methods to Cope with Exam Stress
BY EMMA BONNEY
Exam stress can affect even the best and most well-prepared of students, so if you feel anxious thinking exam period is getting close, know you are definitely not alone in this. In order to regain your focus and ace those finals, you need to find some ways to get yourself back on the right track and relax.
While no student is like the other, and for some people studying and revising comes like second nature, for others, no matter how much they study, the thought of going through an exam is nerve-wracking. But fortunately, there are some methods that have proven very efficient when it comes to relieving stress and regaining focus.
Exercise
Exercising stimulates the release of endorphins, which are known for helping your body cope with pain, but most importantly, anxiety and stress. This does not mean you have to get up and go to the gym for 2 hours every day, if you don’t feel like it. Even a walk or some light jogging can help tremendously with clearing your mind and regaining focus.
Yoga can be another good method to relax while also getting some good exercise for both your body and mind. You can do in at home, whenever you find a few free minutes, or go outside, for better results. Find a quiet place on campus or go to a nearby park, put down your yoga mat and start stretching.
CBD Oil
CBD, or cannabidiol, oil is well-known as a holistic method to treat depression and anxiety and can help tremendously with relieving stress. Studies have shown that a tablespoon of CBD oil in the morning can help with both physical and mental relaxation.
Your body naturally produces a certain number of cannabinoids and has two receptors for them, called CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are mostly found in the brain and help you with coordination, pain, appetite and thinking, while CB2 receptors are found in the immune system and are helping with pain. For some time, researches thought that what CBD does is attach to the receptors, but further research has proven that CB actually helps your body use more of its own natural production of cannabinoids.
Get Enough Sleep
A rested mind can deal with anxiety and stress much better than a tried one. Make sure that, no matter how much you think you have to study, you ever lose sleep. When you feel tired, you can’t concentrate, so you will lose focus and it will seem you simply can’t assimilate information. Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep at night, to help your body and mind reset.
If you have trouble falling asleep, there are a bunch of methods you can try. A hot shower or bath can help you relax and fall asleep much faster. A hot cup of tea can also help, as well as aromatherapy, especially jasmine and lavender oil.
Get Organized
Getting everything in order around you will give you help you feel more in control of your life, which will boost your confidence through the roof. Oftentimes, a cluttered space will make you feel more anxious and unease, so make some time to put everything back in its place before studying.
Organize your schedule as well, split everything you need to study into bulks and give yourself some deadlines according to the exams you have coming up. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss those deadlines from time to time, but do make sure to give yourself a reward every time you finish something on time. Treat yourself with a good dinner, or allow yourself one night out with some friends.
Meditate
Meditation will help get rid of those bad thoughts and get back on track when you feel like you lost focus. Even 10 minutes of meditation a day can change your entire life for the better. If you don’t feel classic mediation is right for you, there are multiple other types that can help you.
Music meditation is one form of relaxation that is much used by students. Find some calming music and concentrate on the sound. Be aware of the different sounds and how they make yourself feel. If bad thoughts start going through your head, simply acknowledge them and let them pass through.
Eat Balanced
During exams, your schedule can get quite hectic and you may find yourself simply forgetting to eat a good meal. Try to keep a balanced diet and have three meals a day. If you don’t eat enough, your body will get dehydrated and you will find it much harder to deal with stress and regain focus. Forget pizza every night and protein bars.
Eat a good breakfast, cook something for dinner and try to get some healthy snacks to boost brainpower. Nuts and fruits are good snacks that you can keep around for study breaks. Green and black tea are also natural stress relievers, so next time give up that cup of coffee in favor of a good tea.
A bit about myself:
Emma Bonney is a successful blogger whose articles aim to help readers with self-development, Women’s Empowerment, Education, entrepreneurship and content management. My work has been featured and mentioned in a wide range of publication.
