Exam season is undoubtedly stressful – trust me I’ve been there. As a final year student, I know all too well just how overwhelming the thought of exam season can be. But from my own personal experience, I’ve learned that a few tweaks to your daily routine and prioritising your wellbeing, can make such a difference.
So here are some of my top tips to help you, not only survive, but also thrive during this busy season.
Master the art of taking breaks
During my first experience of exams at university, I made the classic mistake of thinking I had to study for hours on end. Spoiler alert: it did not work. By the time I reached the third hour, I would realise I had spent the last ten minutes staring blankly at my notes.
Then I discovered the Pomodoro method (this might sound fancy but it’s very simple). You work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break and repeat. After four cycles, you can take a longer, well-deserved 15 to 30 minute break. During those short breaks, I would do something completely unrelated to studying such as making a hot chocolate, doing some yoga stretches or having a quick chat with my mum.
Of course, you can tailor this to suit what works best for you but I found this technique helped me stay much more focused and those short breaks gave me something to look forward to. Give it a try and you might be surprised by how much more productive you feel!
Plan smart, not hard
We’ve all spent time before creating a study plan to map out our exam revision, only to find ourselves falling off track and not sticking to it. The easiest way to avoid this situation is to make your study plan flexible and realistic.
Start by figuring out which subjects or topics need the most attention, then plan out your time. Divide your study time into blocks and break your to-do list up into specific, manageable tasks. It’s also important to leave yourself some wiggle room and have a buffer day or two saved to hopefully prevent any last-minute stress.
Don’t skip sleep
While staying up late to revise and getting up early to cram might seem like a good way to get more done, it’s also an easy way to quickly burn out.
It is so important to prioritise your sleep and aim for at least seven hours a night. Your brain will be able to retain information so much more effectively when it is well rested.
Fuel your body
Exams can be stressful, and your diet plays a big role in how your body handles that stress. As tempting as reaching for an energy drink can be, when you feel your concentration levels start to drop, try drinking a green/herbal tea or a healthier smoothie to help give you a boost without the dreaded crash.
Also make sure not to skip on breakfast on the day of your exam and eat something filling that will keep you sustained throughout the day!
Be kind to yourself
It is so easy to get stuck in your own head, telling yourself you’re not doing enough or worrying about what might go wrong. What helped me was learning to talk to myself the same way I would to a friend. If your best friend was stressed about exams, you wouldn’t say “you’re going to fail”. You would say “you’ve worked hard and you can do this!” So, I started saying this to myself instead. Give yourself credit for even the small wins, like finishing a challenging revision session or just showing up for the day.
It is important to take things one step at a time and remember, exam season is not simply about passing tests. It’s about learning how to handle challenges and take care of yourself along the way. You’re doing great already, and you’ve got this!
However, if at any point, you feel as though you are really struggling with your mental health, please do always talk to someone or reach out for help.
The University offer services that you can easily access including support from the Mental Health Support team, a well-being live chat as well as 24/7 support via Spectrum.Life .