STAY WELL FEEL GREAT
EXAMS?
DON’T STRESS
By Sophie Brown
Jeremy Clarkson may tweet annually about failed exams being no barrier to friends, happiness and a very big car. But for most students life’s a lot more uncertain. For some, things get too much. More than 2,300 15 to 24 year olds took their own lives between 2018 and 2020.
M TOP TIPS FOR GETTING THROUGH EXAM WORKLOAD STRESS... 1. Plan ahead – I know, I know, everyone says it, but trust me. Planning how you will best use your time at the beginning of every week means you can stick to a timetable and enjoy downtime without feeling guilty. Make downtime part of the schedule to relieve stress. 2. Sleep well – Get early nights in where you can. Personally, I never worked past 7pm. Use the few hours before bed to watch TV or read. Winding down and getting a good night’s sleep is essential if you want a clear, focused mind the following day.
y own stress levels soared during exam season. In the moment each exam is the be all and end all. It’s success or failure – or so it feels. It’s easy to get bogged down with revision and research, but I wish I’d known a few things back then that might have made me a bit more relaxed. For instance, I wish I’d known there were more people in my situation. It’s easy to look at others and think they have it all – starting careers, planning travels or having families. They may appear to be enjoying life and going with the flow, but it’s not always how it seems on the surface. Many others are struggling the same way you are.
It’s easy to get bogged down with revision and research. I wish I’d known that good things will come in one way or another and there are many routes to get where you want to be. If things are getting you down – and I know how that feels – speak to someone you trust about how you feel. I talked to my uni friends but it could be a relative, a student helpline, professional, a friend, a colleague. Don’t bottle it up. It’s time to talk.
It’s easy to look at others and think they have it all.
3. Don’t compare yourself to others – We’ve all been there, when that one friend tells you they’ve read much more of a book than you or have revised double or half the amount you have. It doesn’t matter. Only you can best prepare yourself and only you can take the exams. Focus on your own progress. 4. Talk – In the midst of what feels like chaos, make sure you’re checking in on friends and sharing how you’re feeling with others. A quick offload is always good to take the weight off.
31
