Well, all of these aren’t just weird situations; these are behavioural traits that we all face at some or the other point due to exam stress. According to a research, following are the four psychological reasons for exam stress:
- Fear of the outcome
- Peer pressure
- Low self-esteem
- Disappointment in the society
Usually, almost everyone around us tend to freak us out in some or the other way during the exam period and just when the big day approaches, we are flooded with affirmations such as – “Oh! You’ll do good!” or “Don’t take stress,” or “Have some good sleep,” or maybe this: “What’s meant to be, will be!”.
Amidst these not-so-helpful advice, here are some helpful points to successfully manage exam stress:
Be self-aware and oriented
Procrastination, escaping the very fact that the exam will happen, oversleeping, and overthinking during the prep period, and diverting attention from the thought of exams by spending time online or outdoors are all psychological traits of lack of orientation and self-awareness. Confronting the reality and delegation of time right from the beginning to various activities, studies, and relaxation will help you cope up with the stress better.
Accept your flaws and fears
Have you had to face people who rejoice in the act of scaring you by saying all kinds of imaginary things? Sometimes they are friends, and sometimes they are the ‘know-it-all’ adults. The only way to deal with the fear of failure or disappointment is accepting your own flaws. The only way to speak louder than those blabbering around you is to let your actions do the talking. List down your weak points and prepare for a planned survival by accepting them.
Have a game plan!
Chart a game-plan with a wider goal. It’s not just the exams that you should focus on, but also the possible results. Having an action plan and a mental catharsis in advance helps you build up your self-esteem. When you feel prepared to confront the results and strategize accordingly, you overcome half the challenge even before it begins.
