7 Practical ways students can manage exam stress and school Stress [Guest Post]

As a student, you are probably worrying about the non-stop barrage of demanding tasks, project deadlines, and forthcoming exams. To make things worse, you probably are not prepared to take exams which creates a whole different class of stress called exam stress. The demands can cause a longterm study-life imbalance. The pressure can lead to worry and panic which bleeds into all facets of life – present and future.

The approach to pressure determines the end performance. Some students fail to cope with the prevailing circumstances and resort to reckless behavior like skipping classes, abuse of drugs and sadly, some of the students’ dropout. The bottom line is that students stress out and they need to learn how to deal with stress at school.

Teaching institutes^[1] have learned and reported the value of quality student atmosphere and incorporated stress counseling in its study programs. Let us look at the insights they have shared with Cognition Today on how students can overcome stress.

1. Time Management

Last minute rush and lateness are outcomes of poor planning. Most schools provide students with timetables stipulating lecture hours, project dates, deadlines, and exam dates. Students are supposed to use the information in organizing themselves. I.e., knowing the exact times you are likely to have free hours for which you can use for other purposes. The schedules should also help in planning for projects and reduction of coinciding assignments. If project A starts in January and ends in March and Projects B begins in March and ends in May, then project A must be completed on time to create room for project B.

Discipline is a must if students want to manage time and live a comfortable student life.

Recommended read: How to stop procrastinating

2. Join Study Groups and Be Social

In every institution, there are various groups with differing interests. The groups can be social, study or spiritual. Groups enable you to learn and improve your communication skills. If classes are stressful, then groups interactions can be a source of expressing yourself and relieving the pressure of studies. Most groups are interest groups. For example, if you join a take my class online kind of service, you will often meet students who are least interested in the degree but are doing it for the sake of it. Such students need guidance, and for them, meeting like-minded people creates a positive impact.

It is also good to find a person to talk to whenever the levels of stress are high. Talking helps relieve pressure and conversations encourage mental clarity with a sense of direction.

3. Enough Sleep

Sleep deficiency results in low energy, poor concentration, and slow brain functioning. As a student, it is imperative you sleep enough. Night studies extended to late hours of the night are likely to affect your performance in class. When tired, your brain performs poorly. The ability to capture concepts declines if sleep is compromised and your brain is fatigued.

Recommended read: How to fall asleep quickly and improve the quality of sleep

4. Exercise

An effective way of overcoming stress is through regular exercise^[2]. Exercise helps stimulate endorphins which are chemicals vital for mood enhancement. It also helps lower stress hormones. To overcome stress, set a few minutes per day for training. You do not need to exercise intensively; even a thirty-minute walk will be beneficial.

During exercise, your mind does not wander, and you are less distracted. Exercise helps overcome sleeplessness and overthinking which are significant causes of stress. A core outcome of exercise that can make you hit the road now is the tremendous boost it offers to performance.

5. Growth of Mental Strength

Mental strength is the ability to be resilient in tough and high-pressure situations. A mentally strong person does not recoil under problems but seeks solutions. It is easy to overcome stress when you are mentally strong.

The easiest way for a student to grow mentally, is through reading, engaging in competitive sports and games, watching motivational videos and self-affirmations.

Mental strength can drop if you are suffering from poor mental health. In that case, you should talk with a counselor and work on a plan to rebuild it.

6. Music and Relaxing

If you want to cool off and ease, then try music. Music has been the source of hope, inspiration, and comfort since archaic times. To overcome stress, find a collection of music that you find soothing and enticing. Use the music whenever you feel frustrated or demotivated. Slow music can help improve your sleep; It soothes and drives you quietly to slumber-land.

Recommended read: Should you listen to music while studying?

7. Take Courses Online

Learning has become more comfortable than ever. A few decades ago, we couldn’t learn on the internet. We can now learn about multiple subjects on the internet via MOOCs, Blogs, apps, etc. For long term benefits, you can enroll in free stress management courses or even download an app or two. The classes/apps will help you manage ephemeral stress as well as help you develop mental resilience.

Recommended read: The unexpected advantages of learning online

Final Thoughts

Today, stress is in all corners of life- at school, at work, and at home. Learning how to manage stress will be vital in your career and life. The knowledge can help you avoid stress-related diseases like obesity, heart diseases, depression, faster aging, and premature death. Seek counseling when stress levels are high. If you are unsure whether you need professional help or not, you can check out these signs and symptoms of poor mental health. They will help you understand your situation better.

Related: Tests can add a different kind of anxiety in the testing room or exam hall. Follow these quick behavioral techniques to reduce test anxiety there and then. They include using smells, relaxation techniques, placebos, clothing hacks, etc.

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