The Teenager's Guide To: Coping With Exam Stress
So, exam season is well and truly upon us! How are we coping, guys? As I've been saying for the past few weeks: It Has To Be Done! If it has to be done, then let's do our best! Right? This blog post is a follow up to my previous post: The Teenager's Guide To: Last Minute Revision, where I gave my tried and tested tips on how to do last minute revision. As we now know how to revise (or desperately cram), the realisation of the immense pressure of examinations is probably at its peak (dramatic, much?). But have no fear, as exam season is over halfway through! Also, Summer's on its way (unless you live in the UK- what's with the bipolar weather recently?) However, if the stress is building up, it might be a bit hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel - but remember, the light is there, and the tunnel will end! (where am I going with this?) Now, here are my tips on how to cope with exam stress!
#1. Stay organised!
It's important that you know when and where things are happening. Make sure that you have the dates of specific exams written on a calendar or in a diary, so that no 'surprise exams' pop up, and so you know how long you have to revise until the day of your exam. Also, try to create and follow a revision timetable (with a few breaks there and then!), so that you can avoid over-stressing, as the last thing you want to happen is panicking the night before an exam because you haven't revised enough!
#2. Stay on top of your revision!
This kind of coincides with the previous tip, but it's very helpful to follow a revision time table. This ensures that you revise all of your subjects in detail, and allows you to balance out your time evenly. By knowing that you are revising enough, you feel a lot more prepared for the exam, which will definitely reduce your stress levels.
#3. Get enough sleep!
sleepfoundation.org states that teenagers should be getting 9 1/4 hours of sleep in order to function best. It has been proven that not getting enough sleep limits your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. As a teenager myself, I know the struggles of trying to get an early night, but wanting to do a bit more revision, or listen to some music, or spend a unhealthy amount on YouTube before bed. With that said, it's important that we get enough sleep, so that we maximise our brain performance, which will help us revise and ace the exams and reduce our stress levels! Sleep is also an important period of relaxation, for our mind and our body, and allows us to wind down after a stressful day.
#4. Me-Time!
Make some time for yourself, aside from the pressures of exams and revision! Organise times of the day that is strictly revision-free, to allow you to de-stress! You could do some of your hobbies! You could play an instrument, read a good book, go out for a run etc. It's strictly time for yourself! Or, if you'd rather, have a fun time with your friends- but ban any exam/revision talk, because this is de-stressing time!
#5. Remember that exam season does end!
I know this is quite a challenging time, but it doesn't last forever! Exams will be over soon- believe it or not! There are only a certain number of exams that you're due to do, and every one that you do is another one ticked off the list! Feel a sense of accomplishment after you finish an exam, instead of worrying about the other 10 that you have to do! Keep a positive frame of mind, and remember that 1000s of other teenagers are in the exact same position as you- everyone has to take exams at some point! Imagine how relieved you'll feel when you finish your very last exam this season, and don't begin stressing about exam results day, because that's in the future- this is the present!
So there are my tips on how to cope with exam stress. I hope that you find them useful! And be sure to check out my blog post on The Teenager's Guide To: Last Minute Revision if you haven't yet!
Thanks for reading!
~Miss Minikin
#1. Stay organised!
It's important that you know when and where things are happening. Make sure that you have the dates of specific exams written on a calendar or in a diary, so that no 'surprise exams' pop up, and so you know how long you have to revise until the day of your exam. Also, try to create and follow a revision timetable (with a few breaks there and then!), so that you can avoid over-stressing, as the last thing you want to happen is panicking the night before an exam because you haven't revised enough!
#2. Stay on top of your revision!
This kind of coincides with the previous tip, but it's very helpful to follow a revision time table. This ensures that you revise all of your subjects in detail, and allows you to balance out your time evenly. By knowing that you are revising enough, you feel a lot more prepared for the exam, which will definitely reduce your stress levels.
#3. Get enough sleep!
sleepfoundation.org states that teenagers should be getting 9 1/4 hours of sleep in order to function best. It has been proven that not getting enough sleep limits your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. As a teenager myself, I know the struggles of trying to get an early night, but wanting to do a bit more revision, or listen to some music, or spend a unhealthy amount on YouTube before bed. With that said, it's important that we get enough sleep, so that we maximise our brain performance, which will help us revise and ace the exams and reduce our stress levels! Sleep is also an important period of relaxation, for our mind and our body, and allows us to wind down after a stressful day.
#4. Me-Time!
Make some time for yourself, aside from the pressures of exams and revision! Organise times of the day that is strictly revision-free, to allow you to de-stress! You could do some of your hobbies! You could play an instrument, read a good book, go out for a run etc. It's strictly time for yourself! Or, if you'd rather, have a fun time with your friends- but ban any exam/revision talk, because this is de-stressing time!
#5. Remember that exam season does end!
I know this is quite a challenging time, but it doesn't last forever! Exams will be over soon- believe it or not! There are only a certain number of exams that you're due to do, and every one that you do is another one ticked off the list! Feel a sense of accomplishment after you finish an exam, instead of worrying about the other 10 that you have to do! Keep a positive frame of mind, and remember that 1000s of other teenagers are in the exact same position as you- everyone has to take exams at some point! Imagine how relieved you'll feel when you finish your very last exam this season, and don't begin stressing about exam results day, because that's in the future- this is the present!
So there are my tips on how to cope with exam stress. I hope that you find them useful! And be sure to check out my blog post on The Teenager's Guide To: Last Minute Revision if you haven't yet!
Thanks for reading!
~Miss Minikin
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