OK, so mid-terms have been happening last week, and this also this coming week (for me anyway), and I know that that can be pretty stressful for people. So here are my five tips to help you to deal with them, and even if you've finished your mid-terms, these tips will be very helpful for finals week.
Make sure you're eating and drinking
Get plenty of sleep
Like making sure you eat and drink, sleep is also important, especially when it comes to exams. Adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night to be able to function properly, which I know is sometimes challenging, but it is important that you give yourself time to switch off. What I do is by 11 p.m, I finish whatever work I'm doing and try and relax by reading a book, and putting my phone and iPad away, so that by about midnight I'm ready to get to sleep so that I can be up raring to go the next morning.
Spend time with friends
It can be so easy to hibernate in the library or in your room all week while you’re trying to get all of your work done (trust me, I've been there), but it is important to switch off once in a while and hang out with your friends. This can be as simple as having lunch for an hour or so, or a movie night. It is important to give your brain a break so that when you go back to your work you're able to process more information. Also, talking to your friends will help to de-stress you, which we all need during exam week.
We all know that exercise is good for you. We have been told this since we were children. But sometimes it's hard to find an activity that you actually enjoy. All throughout my life I was an ice-skater, and then when I went into university I joined cheerleading. It was a great stress relief and would always make me feel so much better after each practice, and if you do a sport, that is great because you have that covered. However, some people don't (and this year I am one), and so where does that leave others? For some, the gym is the answer. And to you guys I commend you; once I get into the gym I'm fine but my issue is that I find it hard to find to motivation to get there.
So instead I like to walk. Walking is a great way to de-stress, as your are outside and exercising. If I'm having a particularly hard mental block, I will stop what I'm doing, plug in "Hamilton," and just go for a walk for 15-20 minutes. At the end of it, I feel refreshed and ready to continue on with my work.
Take a deep breath
Before you take your exam it's really important to take a deep breath and just relax. You have prepared well for this test and you should feel confident in your abilities. At least 30 minutes beforehand, put down your textbook, and just relax. It'll get you in the right state of mind and you'll do much better on the actual exam.
Remember, it's just an exam. Take one day, and one test, at a time and you will be fine. Use these five tips, and good luck.
