It’s important to remember to keep your mental health as a top priority during the stressful exam season because the harsh reality is that if you’re not taking care of yourself then you won’t perform your best in exams.
A tip that can be used in daily life but especially during exam season is to write down the things that are stressing you out. This way you can visualise them better. Then, you can categorise them however you see best, maybe you could do it by looking at which stresses you can solve on your own and which ones may take time or help from external factors. This will help you to recognise that some things can be solved relatively easy, and will take a massive weight off your shoulders.
Writing down tasks you have to complete is also helpful. At times this can lead to a long, daunting list. However, when you complete a task, no matter how small, you get to cross it out and it gives you a great sense of accomplishment. It will also help to plan out what you have to do which will reduce stress.
I like to make posters when revising. This also leads to feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment when I have them plastered on my walls as it shows me how much I have done, as well as encouraging me to do more. As much as notes are great, it’s not as if you see them when you’re getting dressed and can see what you have done. Posters serve as a constant reminder during exam season, and taking them down when you’re finished is really satisfying. It’s also a way to show your parents how hard you’re trying without them having to do anything other than look in your room.
Snacks. Stressing leads to Snacking. Stress is increased during exam time, therefore more snacking occurs. While this is okay in moderation, it really isn’t great if you’re eating there bags of crisps and a chocolate bar every day during the exam period. Studies have found that increased consumption of sugars and processed foods can actually increase your risk of depression due to blood sugar swings, neurotransmitter dysregulation and inflammation. Choosing an apple over chocolate may improve your mood, as may swapping a coke can for a bottle of water.
Sleep. It is really important to get enough sleep during exam season and stay in a regular pattern. If you are tired all day, your mental health will suffer in general but you also won’t concentrate properly. It can be really tempting to stay up past midnight to finish off that last section, but you’re likely to remember it better if you wait until the morning to finish, rather than depriving yourself of sleep. It’s also important to realise that if you’re staying up until this time every night, it will be hard to sleep earlier when you need to; meaning you will be exhausted and won’t concentrate properly at your 9am exam.
When I have exams or assignments coming up I find it really helpful to have a calendar with my exams marked on it and in the days leading up to that I will have a countdown to each exam. For example, this year I have an exam on the 7th then another on the 13th so my calendar on the 5th would say “2 days until PS1511 exam” and “9 days until PS1509 exam”. This helps me to plan out what I should be revising and also helps me to realise that I usually have more time than I think, seeing the seven empty days before an exam looks like a lot more time than thinking “my exam is in a week”. At least it does in my head anyway. This massively reduces stress as it helps rationalise things.
Priorities are important. During exam season your priorities are likely to be a bit different from usual, It is important that you focus on your exams, but never neglect your mental health for the sake of a grade. Just try to think rationally, think about how you can best manage life and revision during exam season and remember it is temporary and soon it will be over and time to enjoy the post-exam celebrations. Good luck!
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