As part of Stress Awareness Month, Youth Trust Child Wellbeing Practitioner Jess shares her top tips for dealing with Exam Stress.
‘Exams’ are a word that fill the majority of people with some level of fear – from child to adult, to anywhere in between, it is natural that the feeling of having our work judged is uncomfortable and sometimes a nerve-wracking experience.
If you are currently feeling worried, or know someone this is, it is important to know that you are not alone and that there are several things you can do to start supporting yourself/others.
What can you do to support yourself?
Figure out how you learn – do you like to read a textbook? Research online? Watch videos? Create colourful revision guides? Every learning and revision style is unique to the person, so make sure it works for you – just because your friend is using flashcards, doesn’t mean that you need to.
Give yourself structure – by spending a little bit of time creating an exam revision timetable, you will be able to see how much you are revising and balance the work, but also give yourself boundaries and times to ‘switch-off’.
Reward yourself – there are few things less motivating than working for hours, going to bed, and getting up and working again. Make sure that you are being kind to yourself and rewarding your work, whatever that may mean to you. Put sweets on random pages of your workbooks, spend 20 minutes outside, or call a friend! Anything that gives you a boost.
Ask for help if you need it – your teachers are there to support you, so do not feel afraid to reach out and ask for help if you are stuck. You may feel worried that you should already know the information, but not everyone keeps information easily or learns in the same way. There is no shame in asking for support. If you feel you cannot ask your teachers, ask a parent, carer or friend.
Do not compare yourself to anyone else – As mentioned, everyone learns in different ways, and everyone is skilled at different things. School can feel very challenging for some people and there are many different things that may get in the way of someone learning. Be kind to yourself and be realistic about what is right for you.
Sleep – Ensure that you are giving yourself time to rest. If your body and brain have not had the opportunity to rest then you are not going to be able to be as productive as you may like to be. Sleep is a necessity, you must allow yourself to do it!
Remember, if it gets too much and it starts to negatively impact your mental health, there are many services you can reach out to.
Young Minds have fantastic resources for young people on Exam Stress which can be found here: Exam Stress | How To Deal with Exam Stress | YoungMinds
Still need help? Give us a call on 01983 529569
