My previous blog highlighted some key points for staying on top of your studies while you enjoy time with family and friends during the December holiday. Since then, the January exam season has begun, and Surrey students are having to balance studying with other commitments such as work and extracurricular activities. This blog aims to share some advice and personal anecdotes on how to manage stress and stay on top of things during exam season.
The first step is scheduling and planning. Whatever your commitments are, make sure you have planned and prioritised what needs to get done immediately, and what can wait. It may also be wise to put some of your commitments on hold during exam season if possible. For many students, their commitments range from part-time jobs to extracurricular sports. Some commitments are more flexible than others; however, the reality is that life cannot always pause during exam season. This is why, in addition to scheduling and planning, it is also a good idea to give ample notice to those who might be affected by your absences. Team mates, colleagues and employers can all benefit greatly from communication. Ensuring that you manage your expectations for time commitments and the expectations of those around you is one of the first essential steps for a smooth exam season.
Once you have effectively segmented your time, you should take care of all the small admin tasks which typically take up time. For me, I find that cooking, cleaning and doing laundry become huge time burdens during exam season, as I would much rather spend that time studying…. or relaxing… to get energy to study again. I advise doing all the admin tasks in one go if possible. Meal prep, do your laundry and cleaning before the week starts to ensure that all your time and attention can go towards what really matters. This should ( in theory) alleviate some of the additional stresses of being a uni student during exam season.
Additionally, make some time for yourself and your hobbies, if they won’t distract you, that is. In my experience, exercise such as yoga, pilates, weightlifting or running can have a huge impact on one’s state of mind. Exercising is one of my favourite hobbies, but it becomes even more crucial during exam season as a way to relieve stress and stay healthy. In addition to exercising, I also try to get enough sleep and remember to eat and drink enough water!
The next stage may be more applicable to some than others. In my experience, the stress of exams is best handled BEFORE the exam season even starts. That is the best time to let all the stress and anxiety give you a reality check and use that to keep you in motivated as you study. Regardless of how an exam goes in the end, I always go in feeling positive and leave knowing I did my best, and nothing more can be done. This is important because the truth is a lot of stress comes on the day of and after exams when students stress about how well they did or didn’t do. My father always reminds me that if you are worried about exams in the middle of the semester, you’re on track. This is because you have probably already thought about what needs to be done and started working to achieve your goals. Stressing about the exam on the day of or after becomes a huge emotional burden with no easy solution, so avoid stressing during these times. Of course, not everyone can just turn the voices in their head off, but everyone should make a conscious effort to do so. Regardless of how prepared you actually feel, positive affirmations before and during exam season can keep you calm and grounded, which in turn may actually lead to better results. So, however you feel, remember to stay positive and don’t let any negative voices, yours or anyone else’s make you second-guess your capabilities! You got this!
