This year won’t be the same as normal years for exams – this much is obvious. The usual experiences of having to put your phone and bags inside your locker, having invigilators who wear scarves and clacky heels, and scrolling through twitter pages full of exam memes probably won’t be what you’ll face this year, but it doesn’t mean that some formalities of exams won’t remain. I’ve been through roughly 100 exams in my life, so I’d love to share with you some advice on how to stay calm if you’re not so great with handling them.
First off, I’d like to preface this article by saying that over the years, exams have been my number one enemy. There is honestly nothing that makes me more anxious than a test of my ability, or a chance for me to fail. Exams can be naturally nerve-wracking for everyone, and a certain amount of stress has a positive influence on your outcome. However, if you throw up beforehand regardless of whether you ate or not, or you become incredibly impatient with anyone who tries to help you because you feel so sick, or words like ‘exam’ can trigger your sickness, then there’s slightly more stress there than there should be. There was a period of time where all of these things affected me – and I’d be lying if I said they didn’t still somewhat to this day. However, with time and effort, things have got better. I can usually take stress without instantly wanting to vomit, and I can actually eat before tests now. If you experience any of this, please keep reading!
The first instinct when you’re feeling sick might be to distract yourself – but I’d encourage you to do the opposite. ‘Think about something else’ is an encouraging thing to say, but I’ve actually found that thinking about it in a physical manner can completely eradicate the feeling, even if just for a moment. Now, I don’t mean that you should think about what’s causing the stress – don’t think deeply about the exams! Try to think more about the physical feeling that you’re experiencing, and picture in your mind what it looks like. Give it a shape, colour, and texture. This can make it feel less unknown, less powerful, and far more manageable. If you can, try not to think about this technique as a ‘bypass for the pain’, let the relaxation come naturally.
Another good thing to do is to sort out a routine around exam time. I only started going to the gym from late 2019 – early 2020, but it did the world of difference to my mental health. It distracted me in a healthy way (i.e. I wasn’t trying to distract myself by using my phone or watching a film) and let me pour all my energy into something active and difficult. I found that by going to the gym the night before, both my body and brain were tired, so I didn’t have lots of excess nervous energy that was spent worrying about what might or might not happen. Obviously, gyms aren’t open right now and memberships can be expensive, but even running or working out in your garden can have the same effect. You just want to go to bed tired and drowsy.
My final tips are to not cram, do not put your textbook to your head so you can ‘absorb the information through osmosis’, and do not pull all-nighters. All three have been proven to be ineffective. Instead, revise at a steady pace for the weeks prior, then do some healthy distractions in the days before the exams begin. Bake some cookies or make some brownies (the BEST recipes below!). Cycle to your friend’s house and see a sunset together somewhere on a hill. Write a letter to an elderly person that you know or a family friend who may be feeling lonely. Trust me when I say, pulling out your phone and scrolling through social media as a last-ditch attempt to distract yourself in the moment will not have the effect you want, especially not in the long run.
It takes practise and the relaxed feeling certainly doesn’t come straight away, but it truly is about time. And remember, if the exams don’t go your way, you’re allowed to feel sad and disappointed. They aren’t the be all end all, you can take them all again, you can still become successful by taking Route B. Good luck!
cookie recipe – https://tasty.co/recipe/the-best-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies
brownie recipe – https://glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/2017/11/15/gluten-free-chocolate-brownie-recipe-dairy-free-low-fodmap/ (they’re gluten free but trust me, they’re better than gluten ones)
