Preparing for an important exam can have a learner feeling stressed and anxious. The pressure of needing to perform optimally and achieve high scores can be rather uncomfortable and distressing. Is your ACT, SAT, GED or other major test nearing, and do you feel overwhelmed? Fret not, because the following are effective and practical tips about how to avoid feeling stressed when studying:
Do some breathing and stretching exercises. Breathing exercises are by no doubt one of the best ways to relieve stress and tension. They can calm your body as well as your mind. Deep, deliberate and slow breathing in fact triggers the body to undergo a relaxation response wherein your muscles begin to loosen, your heart rate slows down and your blood pressure alleviates. For 5 minutes, you can perform abdominal breathing by filling your stomach area with air. Otherwise, you can do the 7:7:7 technique where for 7 seconds you breathe in, for another 7 seconds you hold your breathing and for the last 7 seconds you breathe out. Along with these breathing techniques, you can execute stretching activities. To know the proper methods of doing these, try enrolling in a yoga class and practice what you learned at home. Effectual yoga stretching activities help to relieve tense muscles and enhance your circulation and mental focus. Remember to get out of your desk once in a while to take breaks so that you become mentally and physically alert.
Learn the art of time management. It generally is a prudent option to start your test prep a few months in advance, especially if you’re taking a major exam such as the SAT, the ACT or the GED, among others. Having ample time to review for your test allows you to cover all the pertinent topics. It would also prevent you from the tendency to cram that may lead to being overstressed and burnt out. Time management in this regard needs you to create an organized timetable that indicates the topics that you should study every day or week. It is important that you adhere to it as well. Then again, don’ t forget to take daily and weekly breaks so that you can rejuvenate and recover from fatigue.
Make sure to remove distractions. Social media can prove to be a significant distraction when you’re test prepping online. Research has shown that browsing social media for too long results to feeling stressed and a syndrome called “FOMO” or fear of missing out. See to it that you avoid social media activities for a couple of hours so that you’ll be more focused on your studying and steer clear of being bothered by negative thinking patterns. If you really can’t help it, delete such apps from your smartphone or computer for the time being or install site blockers.
Take a walk outdoors. Go outside and breathe in open air for 5 minutes to reduce your stress. It may be tempting to study within the confines of your dorm or bedroom, but this may cause feelings of anxiety. Particularly look for a green area to calm your nerves and cultivate mental clarity.
Do regular cardiovascular exercises and be physically active. Even 10-minute walks carried out on a regular basis can bring sufficient health results in the same way as 45 minutes of rigorous training. Exercising regularly diminishes stress and boosts memory and mental acuity. Tiring yourself when exercising leads to better sleep at night that in turn makes you more relaxed during the day time. The benefits of regular exercise are indeed countless, including mood enhancement that places you in a better condition to perform your test prep.
Express your qualms and anxieties to your friends. Your exam nearing can make you feel anxious and overwhelmed. Get a good grip of your feelings by appeasing yourself and talking about it to your trusted friends. Surprisingly, you’ll find that they might be feeling the same way, consequently calming you and making you feel that you are not alone. Whenever you feel stressed during your test prep, call a friend or approach your mom or dad and express how you feel. Venting your emotions can get you back on track in terms of your determination and focus.
Get enough quality sleep. Although it might be tricky to do in the middle of your test prep period, sleep at the same time every night. An efficient sleeping routine conditions your body to relax prior to going to bed and ultimately improves the quality of your sleep. Come day time, you will then be in the best of mood and condition to hurdle your tasks. It makes sense to take power naps during the day, too. This way, you’ll be able to recover your energies and calm your nerves.
These are some of the most effectual ways of relieving stress and preventing burn out when studying for an important exam. Establishing a healthy regimen during your test prep period is crucial to bring about optimal well-being so that you become mentally sturdy and physically stalwart, able to perform at your best and become successful in your academic endeavour.