How to beat exam stress

The end of yet another school year is drawing nearer and the time we all dread is here. Now that holiday season is over, it’s time to put your party dress away and put your thinking caps on! With projects piling up and examinations around the corner, the question on everybody’s mind is: will I survive yet another year? Well, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you get through this stressful time and come out with flying colors!

Tip 1: Start early

As the saying goes: the early bird catches the worm. With a worm as juicy as a distinction for your effort, why not be as early as possible? Start preparing yourself now! Something as simple as reading through notes on the way home from school can give you a huge advantage over your peers! Research shows that revising what you’ve just learnt immediately creates a more lasting effect on our brain. Waiting for the bus to take you home? Whip out your notes for a quick glance while at the bus stop! Taking these small steps will make studying easier for you.

Tip 2: Keep your eyes on the prize

It’s easier to memorize things you constantly see, so our next tip is to keep your eyes on the prize!

Buy cardboard stars in bright colors from the bookstore new you or you can even make some out of card. Write key facts and phrases on each and stick them around your bedroom in places where you'll often see them! Stick them on your mirror or inside a cupboard that you often open or even in between a file you always use. After a while, these facts will sink in without any extra effort on your part. Not to mention, these sticky notes add color to your room!

Tip 3: Ask for help

Don’t be shy to ask for help if you don’t understand a particular topic or are having difficulties. Whether it is a peer or your lecturer, there will always be somebody around you who is willing to share his or her knowledge with you. You're not alone so don't feel that you have to be. If studying in a group helps facilitate your learning then arrange to do so with your friends. That way, you can motivate each other to stay focused and can also clarify your doubts with each other.

Tip 4: Motivate yourself

If you have great aspirations for yourself in the future, keep them in mind! Whether you’re aiming for university or looking to join the workforce, use it to keep yourself focused on doing well in school. If you are tired or lack concentration, think about how bright your future will be if you just focused a little more! If you need to,

leave a little note on your laptop or in your pencil case egging you to study. It can say anything from “Don’t get distracted!” or “Ivy League school, here I come!” as long as it keeps you moving!

Tip 5: Do it the natural way

This means that you should stay as far away as possible from caffeine. Coffee, Red Bull and other caffeinated drinks give you a short lift before making you crash and burn. Caffeine is a stimulant. This means it accelerates physiological activity, speeding up the action of your brain and making you more alert. It does this by binding to adenosine receptors in the brain.

Essentially all that adrenaline makes you tensed and ready for action, but not necessarily intellectual action. You do become more alert initially, and your brain may work better and faster. However, by the time you hit that second cup, you may be anxious and irritable, which is not conducive to clear thinking.

You actually study better with regular breaks, getting lots of sleep, and from exercising. Instead of reaching for that over-caffeinated drink, grab a bottle of BRAND'S^® Essence of Chicken or Vitamin Water instead! If you need a quick energy boost, go for a quick walk outside or just get up and stretch at your desk. You should always keep to your regular sleeping patterns, regardless of how stressed you are. Having a good eight hours of sleep keeps your mind sharp and alert, so you might just be sleeping your way to your next distinction!