South Africa’s high school pupils are settling into exam mode around the country, cramming months of hard work into one, two and three-hour papers.
And while examination time is usually stressful, examination time in the year of Covid-19 is infinitely more stressful.
However, stress is a massive impediment to effective studying, which is why it’s important to deal with it effectively.
Here’s how!
Draw up a revision schedule
If you haven’t already, it’s important that you put together a revision schedule that outlines exactly what needs to be studied and when. Having a visual outline is a great way to ease anxiety, as well as making sure you’re covering all necessary subjects.
Factor in breaks
The mind will reach a point where no more information will be retained if it’s not given the chance to rest and replenish.
Make sure you factor in 10-minute breaks every hour (or half-hour if it’s incredibly difficult work), and allocate yourself some (not too much though!) downtime, where you can do something you enjoy.
Get some exercise
The best way to release pent-up stress is to simply get out for a bit of exercise. This will get the heart pumping, blood flowing, and release the necessary endorphins (happy hormones) to make you feel that much better.
This could be a short swim, walk or whatever form of exercise you prefer. You will return to work much more alert and receptive.
Eat healthily and stay hydrated
Avoid the temptation to cram sugar-laden snacks and caffeinated drinks to stay awake during this time.
The sugar wreaks havoc on your brain and will make studying that much more difficult.
Rather opt for healthier foods and keep hydrated with water or Rooibos tea. It’s full of antioxidants and is a refreshing alternative to coffee or fizzy drinks.
Get sufficient sleep
Cramming through all-nighters might get you through your list of work, but the quality of study is extremely low and you’re unlikely to retain all the information.
Avoid the temptation to replace sleep with study and get at least eight hours of sleep a day.
A well-rested body and mind is much more likely to recall material learnt and position you for success.
Avoid social media
Social media is designed to entrap you in a world of endless posts, and you will emerge hours later forgetting what you were searching for in the first place.
Added to this is the anxiety brought on by social media feeds. Tough as it may be, put your phone away when studying and rather read, listen to music or get some exercise when you take a break.
Talk to others
If you are feeling particularly overwhelmed, don’t bottle it up, rather talk to your friends, parents or teachers to allay your fears.
Most of the time, these fears are completely unfounded and just brought on by exam stress.
Remember how far you have come and believe in yourself.
Good luck!
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