For some of us exams are highly stress-inducing episodes in our life. While it is sometimes said that pressure is an effective propeller for improved performance, much depends on the individual. Some peak under pressure and others just cave in. Under a lot of stress, a candidate may find his mind going blank in the middle of the exam paper, succumb to carelessness due to failure to concentrate, go into a nervous breakdown, or fall sick. All these would prevent one from giving his/ her best, regardless of how much prior preparation had gone in before that.
According to US-based medical practice and medical research group, the Mayo Clinic, the human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Positive stress keeps us alert and ready to respond to danger. However, this stress becomes negative when one continues to face it without relief between challenges.
Mental wellness is essential to one’s ability to perform optimally. Keeping a sound and calm mind will help tide you through any challenges.
Here’s some tips on staying calm and relaxed until the big day:
Exercise regularly. Aim to clock in at least 30 minutes each day. Exercise helps to stimulate oxygen delivery to the brain, and this does wonders for a myriad of cognitive functions including reasoning abilities, memory and focus. Additionally, exercise strengthens your body and immune system.
Get sufficient sleep, not only on the night before the big day, but make it a habit. Insufficient sleep can make you edgy, tired and prone to poor decisions. Refrain from cramming in late night study periods if you’re not a night person. If you are better focused in the day, turn in early to get up early morning and have that extra time.
Take up arts and crafts or a manual activity. Some people find such activities to be therapeutic, and as they often require a great amount of focus, they help to hone your concentration skills. Activities to consider include knitting, drawing, cross-stitch, cooking, rainbow looming and wool felting.
Engage in conversations with your family and friends. Having intelligent discussions gives your brain opportunities to explore issues and opinions that you never knew about. An article by Huffington Post proposed that giving attention and face-time to a loved one helps relieve stress. Don’t cut your loved ones out of your life simply because you’re busy!
Don’t leave things to the last minute. Having less time to prepare means you may not perform to your full potential. Last minute hiccups may occur, leaving you with less time, and more stress, to cope. Aim to check off something on the to-do list everyday.
Eat regular meals. Eating is the body’s way of absorbing much-needed nutrients required for optimal performance of the daily activities. Poor eating habits can eventually lead to chronic gastric, which is unpleasant and pesky to be rid of.
Allocate regular periods of time for rest and relaxation. Depending on the individual, and interest level towards the subject at hand, concentration spans vary, and one should tailor their resting schedule accordingly. As the saying goes, a rest is a preparatory step for a longer journey ahead.
– This article first appeared in a lifestyle magazine.
