As exam season approaches stress levels tend to spike among students. And while a little stress can be a good thing for both motivation and focus, too much can leave you feeling overwhelmed and isolated. 

Trying to revise a tonne of information over a short space of time can be extremely stressful. And the feeling that everyone else seems to know everything already and you’re falling behind can cause feelings of desperation. 

So, if you would like to stop some of that stress in its tracks, here are some quick tips that might help. 

Plan to study, plan to relax 

It’s important to make a routine for studying, but it’s also just as important to plan breaks as well! For students, it can be difficult to take the time to slow down and relax, every second not spent studying can feel like a moment wasted. 

You might try to practice breathing exercises and mindfulness. There are lots of great apps and many free meditations on YouTube.

Many of them are twenty or thirty minutes long, but a five-minute meditation or even one minute of focused breathwork can make all the difference and be a great starting point.

Similarly, make sure you take time to remain involved in any social or extracurricular activities you may have. Achieving a healthy balance between social and academic responsibilities is essential to maintaining positive mental health, and will actually improve your concentration, focus and ability to work and study effectively!

Cut down on the espresso 

Sometimes caffeine seems like a gift handed down from the study gods.

It helps you focus, wakes you up just when you need it, and sometimes it’s nice to have something warm in your hands. But the flipside is that too much caffeine can leave you sick, frazzled, and ruin your ability to sleep.

This will undoubtedly ruin any study plans you might have had.

Get some sleep, eat some food 

Foods containing the same types of nutrients are grouped as such:  

• Vegetables, salads and fruit.
• Wholemeal cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice.
• Milk, yogurt and cheese.
• Lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts.
• Fats, spreads and oils.

Your body needs a variety of nutrients to operate at its optimum level.  

No matter what, it’s important to look after yourself throughout your exams.

This means making sure you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep every night (7-8 hours) and eating healthily. Your body needs a variety of nutrients to operate at its optimum level. 

Exercise, exercise, exercise 

You don’t have to start hitting the gym four times a week and drinking protein shakes with every meal, but you should be going out for even a short walk at least once a day.

A simple activity like brisk walking or jogging has been shown to vastly improve blood flow and cognitive function. It will also provide you with an outlet for a much-needed break from the books!

This means that you’re going to end up with a greater ability to concentrate on all those study plans. 

Talk to someone  

If exams are starting to weigh on your mental health, then it is a good idea to talk to your mentor, a friend, or family member.

You might find that talking out your problems can be constructive and help put things into perspective, or you might even find that your peers feel the same way and are waiting to talk to someone as well.

If you want to talk to someone outside your immediate circle, you can visit the Student Counselling services.  

When the exam is over, forget about it  

When an exam is finished it is easy to start dissecting every single answer to every single question.

Discussing exams with friends can sometimes be a great way to unwind or to find some relief. But all too often you will start second guessing yourself or believing that because your friends gave a different answer they somehow know better – this can undermine your self-confidence at a time when it’s so important to stay positive.

The ironic thing is, everybody feels the same way!

Doubting your performance afterwards will only add to your stress levels and contribute to any lingering anxiety, leaving you distracted when you should be focused on the next exam.

Study as much as you can, give the exam your best shot, and move onto the next.  At the end of the day, all anyone can do is their best!

For more advice on how to handle stress, read our 5 Tips to Slow Down a Racing Mind.

If you’re still finding it tough during exam season, Trinity offer a variety of student support and counselling services. Learn more about Trinity’s student support services.