Reduce Your Anxiety and Stress before Examination

Over the last few months many students and friends specially among school-goers, competitive exam aspirants to medical students have asked me about the ways to combat exam stress. So, I decided to write this short article.

The reasons an exam can be so unpleasant is that they are extremely vital for us and we get emotionally attached with it. Paradoxically, while a certain amount of stress before an exam is inevitable and may be beneficial, too much of it causes the body to release excess adrenaline. Understanding our emotions helps us to reduce our anxiety drastically.

Taking exam is like travelling to an unfamiliar territory which is beyond our comfort zone. Internal doubts, competition from peers and high expectation of family and relatives are some of the reasons which adds to the pressure .

Outlined below are some time-tested but fun and unorthodox ways to reduce anxiety.

The Evening Before The Exam :

1. Only Revise –  Avoid learning new concepts and informations as you will be unable to recall most of it the next day.
2. Listen to Music – Listening to your favorite piece of music for a short period will not only help to calm your mind but will also rejuvenate you.
3. Breathe- When we are tensed, our breathing becomes fast and shallow. So in between the study sessions consciously take three slow but deep breaths every 30 minutes.
4. Watch Cartoons- Watch some funny cartoons for 10 minutes or a short inspirational video whatever works for you .
5. Be Prepared- Keep the things (pen, admit card etc) ready that you will need on the exam day.
6. Sound Sleep- Early dinner and 7-8 hours of sleep will not only reduce stress but will also boost your performance the next day.

On The Exam Day:

1. Breakfast– Get up on time and eat proper breakfast as you do not want to feel hungry during the exam .
2. Hydrate Yourself- Drink plenty of water and take ORS in a bottle with you specially if your exam is in the summer.
3. Arrive Early– Reach the exam centre without rushing . Additionally, avoid the last minute cramming or discussing answers with your friends.
4. Breathe– Take three deep breaths after every 30 minutes. If you breathe better you will definitely feel good and perform better.
5. Chewing Gums– Try to chew gums during the exam. Many students claimed to perform better by doing this.
6. Dark Chocolates: Taking dark chocolates during the exam will help you to prevent hypoglycemia and perform at your best.

Know that, however intense it feels before the exam this state will not last forever. It also helps to remember that marks do not always reflect your knowledge. Last, but not the least, do not forget to celebrate once the exam is over.