By Orla Ruane, First Year, English Literature
Exams are undoubtably one of the most difficult challenges of university life. Anxiety surrounding exam season is natural, even expected and with so much riding on such little time it is difficult to avoid being filled with nervous anticipation. Thankfully, as I’m writing this article, exams have finished and we can finally enjoy the Christmas break. However, as thousands of students await their results there are undoubtedly mixed emotions surrounding what is to come.
Exam season individually affects us all. Some students rely on timed assessments and written exams with the thought of coursework making them nauseous. Whilst many others dread these timed exam situations. People remind you not to worry, encouragingly starting that 'it will be fine'. Although their heart is in the right place for many it is not that simple. The classic ‘catch 22’ of being told to get a good nights sleep before an exam is practically an exercise in futility. In this article I will explore five ways to reduce exam stress for the future.
First things first it is important to find a balance within your all nighters in the library. These work at the expense of your mental health and will sabotage you in the long run. Go out, meet friends and do not isolate yourself in order to the achieve the quest of better grades. Research suggests that taking short pauses can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. During this time it is easy to become hyper-fixated on looming deadlines. However, it is important that this does not impact the time you allocate to self-care. As a 2013 article in the New York times wrote, ‘a new and growing body of multidisciplinary research shows that strategic renewal-including daytime workouts, short afternoon naps [and] longer sleep hours… boosts productivity, performance and health.’
Secondly, if you are struggling it is important to speak to someone. Whether it is a family member or a friend it is natural to be nervous and many people will understand and sympathise with what you are going through. Wellbeing support is also available within the university. Nobody should feel that they have to go through something alone, so make sure you reach out if you feel anxiety is affecting your life.
Thirdly, a productive way to deal with exam stress can be to revise with friends, realistically there may be a topic you struggle with that they may also find challenging. It can be easy to look around and feel inferior to your peers, however this is rarely the case. Through testing each other and working it out together you can collectively and productively ease exam stress for the future.
But what about during the exam? It is common for anxiety to affect exam focus, it can throw you off and leaves you panicking. However, it is important that you do not let it control you. Easier said than done, I know. Try to focus on taking slow, deep breaths and clear your mind to focus on moving forward, rather than spiralling into what you think is the worst-case scenario.
Finally finding new places to study can alleviate exam pressures. Frankly it might be easier to win the lottery than find a seat in The ASS during exam season. Sometimes it is nice to find alternatives. Independent cafes such as Cloakroom, Oddshop, The Crafty Egg and many more serve as relaxing study spaces.
For many, exam season is the most difficult part of student life. As Christmas now leads to a time of rest and relaxation it is easy for the mind to anxiously wander towards results, it is important to spend time with loved ones, exams do not define you. Although the next set of exams seem relatively far away, hopefully, this article will help with the future.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful break and I wish you all the best of luck with results!
