Tips For Managing Stress During Exams

by | Skill Development

You’ve been learning in classes all year long and now you have to put what you know down on paper – for five courses! Exam time can be stressful and overwhelming, so here are some stress management tips to make it go a little smoother.

Related – How not to cram

1. Create a study plan

When you’re juggling a bunch of different course work to study, having a prioritized plan laid out in advance can be a lifesaver. Assign a certain amount of time to each course on specific days to avoid cramming the day before the test.

2. Find a distraction-free study environment (or have a reliable study partner)

It’s much better to study for 3 hours where you get quality studying done rather than studying for 6 hours with your best friend who shows you hilarious cat memes every 10 minutes. Still, make sure to take regular breaks to keep your mind fresh. Also, if you do have a good study partner, it’s best to study alone first, and then spend a few hours with a partner quizzing each other and bouncing ideas off one another. Ultimately, you need to know the material.  Check out these awesome apps to make your laptop distraction free too!

3. Focus on the notes you took during class

It is obviously important to review your textbooks before the final, but the information your teacher highlighted in class is probably the most important. You can expect to see questions on this material on your exams, so studying this material first is a good starting point.

4. Get plenty of sleep

Pulling an all-nighter before the big day will cause more harm than good. It’s better to study a few nights before over shorter time periods and getting a solid 8 hours of sleep before the test. Worried you’ll sleep through your alarm or hit the snooze too many times? Try putting your alarm clock across the room to force yourself to climb out of bed! For the extra deep sleeper, try one of these crazy clocks!

5. Put healthy fuel in the tank

Feed yourself! This may seem like a no-brainer but your body needs healthy food in order to function at full capacity. Avoid convenience store snacks and try a well-balanced meal instead! Check out this list of the best brain food!