How do you know if you are suffering from examination stress or not? Broadly speaking, you can have three types of symptoms -- psychological, physical and bodily symptoms.
Psychological symptoms would include your inability to concentrate on your work, getting angry at the slightest pretext, feeling tense, brooding and being unable to relax. Physical symptoms include feeling tired, being unable to sleep, a feeling of throwing up, indigestion and sweaty palms.
Other common symptoms include eating chocolates, drinking loads of coffee, neglecting your looks, biting your nails, pulling your hair and tapping your fingers on the table. If you have most of these symptoms, then you are stressed out. Here are a few tips on how to avoid exam stress:
Acknowledge the problem: The first and foremost rule of beating stress is to acknowledge the fact that ‘yes I do have a problem’. Identify the problem, or else you are not going to know what you are dealing with.
Get help: Once the problem is identified then you need to get help. You can go to anybody who you feel comfortable with. For example, ask a teacher or a tutor on how to organize your material or on how to revise.
Take short tests: Self-testing is a very good assessment of judging where you stand. Remember you are doing this for yourself so don’t fool yourself. Assess yourself and then work on your weak points.
Plan your work: Make a detailed timetable and plan out your work. This will also give you a good perspective as to where you stand.
Stay healthy: You may neglect your health during exam time. However, it is important to eat well and get enough sleep in order to put in your hundred per cent.
Exercise: Sitting on your table all day long will make you dull and difficult for you to retain everything. You must exercise, go for a walk and get a breath of fresh air to keep your batteries charged.
Be positive: Do not waste your energies on negative thoughts such as, "What if I fail, or don’t finish my paper on time or don’t remember anything." This will only make things worse for you. Concentrate on your work and don’t hassle yourself thinking about the future.
Be alert: You must be totally alert while studying and should have nothing troubling you at the back of your mind.
Don’t be too relaxed: Some amount of stress is positive and will make you work harder.
Do your best: At the end, what’s important is that you give your exams your best shot and leave the rest to your teachers.
Remember the more stressed you are, the more difficult the period of exams will be for you. It is in your hands to control your stress. Follow these simple rules and do it now.
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