• 22 Jan, '24
• -

Exam season can be extremely nerve-wracking and stressful, quite a nightmare for a lot of students. Sleepless nights, lack of appetite, back-to-back deadlines, the never-ending worry about good grades and oh hey, stress-induced procrastination often seems to kick in, doesn’t it? And yes, studying after Christmas break feels highly demotivating and blue :/ But don’t worry, we understand how scary it can actually be! And that is why I tried to come up with a few tried and tested tricks that have been quite impactful in helping to manage these awful stress levels!

Let’s start off with the basics:

• Maintain a schedule:

I know we hear that from everyone all the time but honestly, having time assigned for all your tasks throughout the day DOES help with the overwhelming thoughts of “my god I have too much to do and I have absolutely no idea where to start” well, you once you make a doable routine you will know that at 10 am you need to read Robin Lakoff’s research paper!

It is advised to make a priority list first and build a daily routine accordingly. For some people, planning too much might feel like a waste of time and they can follow their basic routine without having to break down every single task. But if you are someone who tends to get overwhelmed like me, having smaller chunks with time stamps feels more doable and helps you build confidence! After all, we do love striking things off from the To-do list at the end of the day xx

• Breaks and pomodoro:

Studying for long hours is more of a need than a want during exams. And to be able to do that without having any burnouts, pomodoro method works like a charm. Use the 50-10 timer which is where you study for 50 minute and take a short 10-minute break! Once you repeat such sessions 2-3 times, take a longer break! (Preferably 30-40 min!)

Although it is essential to be smart about what to do during these breaks! Here are a few suggestions:

The 10-minute breaks:

• Jam with your favourite songs! (Here are links to my favourite study playlists from Spotify! Study Playlist and LoFi Playlist)
• Practice breathing exercises/meditation
• Make some tea
• Take a short walk
• A quick snack (avoid watching anything during this time)

The 30–40-minute breaks:

• Meal prep if you need to
• Take a short nap
• Call up a friend and relax for a while
• Practise a hobby! (I personally love practising singing during these breaks; it's refreshing!) Just make sure you have a timer on for these breaks as well so that you can get back to the studies in time!

• Walk/exercise:

An essential! moving our body and going out in the fresh air is really important and it helps so much with staying active + regulating stress levels. You don’t have to go for a full-blown gym session every time, daily outdoor walks and cardio are amazing too xx

• 6 hours of sleep:

We tend to sacrifice our sleep too often but hey it can lead up to fatigue and brain fog. So, stop. Please get AT LEAST 6 hours of sleep every night. Once you develop a schedule it will be possible to not sacrifice sleep in order to stay up and study. A good amount sleep is really essential for effective study, so get that beauty sleep<3

PS: Rory Gilmore did say “who cares if I am pretty if I fail my finals” which is true but believe me, you can get that sleep and still ace your finals <3

• Maintain a good diet:

Eat your protein! You will feel active throughout the day when you maintain your diet (with proteins!!!!)

• Stay hydrated!!

I cannot stress this enough that your body needs all that water it really does. Install apps for reminders if needed but a minimum of 2-3L of water every day is a must!

• Journal and delayed gratification:

Mindfulness during stressful situations becomes mandatory. At the end of a hectic day, it is important that you give yourself some time to reflect on your emotions and treat yourself for all the work that you did! Even if you completed 60-70% of the planned tasks. We tend to beat ourselves up for not completing a to-do list, but hey, acknowledging your efforts is much more important and you need it! It helps with staying optimistic, confident and consistent.

• Hot showers and breathing exercises:

What’s better than a relaxing hot shower to wash the stress away before diving into a deep slumber? Try out guided breathing exercises (Wim Hof’s for example) before bed and after waking up. This will help in reducing cortisol levels so that you can go to bed with a quiet mind, and start your day peacefully <3

Pro tip: if you aren’t lactose intolerant, try drinking turmeric milk every night or 3-4 times a week before going to bed! It is amazing for the immune system.

Remember to meditate a little bit as soon as you wake up as it helps with the cortisol levels and you can start off another hectic day with a calm mind!

Exam season can become easier with proper planning and a healthy routine. We hope that these tips will help you! Don’t worry too much, we are rooting for you! All the best!

By Ananya K.