Unfortunately, exam season is almost upon us. For the majority of us, that means that we’ll be sitting, 5, 10, or 15 exams over the course of a month or two. That means you’ll need to study a lot, and you’ll be under immense pressure. In order to ensure your mental health is – ahem – healthy, you should try to take these tips onboard.
Make a study plan
Making a study plan can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed, which is a significant source of stress. By planning out your revision, you’ll know you have time to cover everything, and you won’t be rushing to get things done. This post has a lot more information about how to make a study plan, but essentially all you have to do is list your tasks in order of priority, then put them into your calendar!
Have fun
Yes, studying takes a lot of time, but you need to set aside time for yourself. Give yourself at least an hour to spend time with your friends or work on your hobbies. This will reduce your stress levels and make you more productive, acting as a source of motivation to get stuff done. If you really want to be productive, then find ways to make studying fun, like using gamification or studying with friends!
Vent your stress
If you keep all your stress inside you, you’ll end up snapping one day. Let it out! Talk to your friends about what’s stressing you out – they’re probably going through something similar. If you’re not comfortable doing that, then journalling can help you externalise your worried without being scared that someone is judging you.
Exercise!
Exercise is such an easy way to boost your mood because it releases endorphins – feel-good hormones. Find a form of exercise that you like and try to do it for at least 30 minutes a day. Ideally, try to exercise outside so that you’re getting some fresh air and sunlight! Also, exercising first thing in the morning can set a productive and happy mood for the rest of your day.
Try meditation & mindfulness
Mindfulness and meditation have become very popular recently, and for good reason – they’re a great way to reduce your stress levels. If you’re new to mindfulness, then there’s tons of guided meditation apps out there to help you get started. Aim for around 5 minutes a day at first, and gradually work your way up. Practicing mindfulness has a side-effect that it improves your attention span, so you’ll be more able to focus suring your study sessions and exams!
