WHAT IS EXAMINATION STRESS?
Examination time has come and students are all
ready for their examinations. A common problem we all face during the
examinations is of anxiety. At time students feel excited for their exam and on
the other they feel nervous. This combined feeling gives rise to anxiety and
when the level of anxiety rises it invites stress. An optimum level of anxiety
is good for boosting the performance but when a high level of anxiety is there
it actually becomes stress which deteriorates the performance of the students.
Examinations
are good, but now for a large number of students they have become stressful,
why?
This is a major question which ponders in my mind
often.
Final Examinations or Board
Examinations are the occasions which should be welcomed enthusiastically by the
students and the parents as well. But contrary to this, it is treated as a load
or a stressful time by both the parents and the students, why is it so?
This is so because now a days parents are not sending
their children to school to get such an education which helps them to realize
their potential but, to make them toppers. The passion for competition is so
high that the parents have attached their prestige with the marks of their
children. They only want that their child should become a topper. Two of the
very popular Bollywood movies (Tare Zameen Par and 3 idiots) have also
highlighted this point that parents, for the sake of fulfilling their dreams
and desires pressurize their children since their childhood, to get good marks;
irrespective of the interest of the child and his/her potential. This pressure
gradually influences the mind of the child and when the child becomes mature
enough to understand the level of competition he or she comes under pressure of
getting good marks. And this pressure in turn gives rise to stress.
And let me remind all the parents and students
that stress always have a negative effect on the performance so, avoid
generating stress.
How to get rid of stress
Getting rid
of examination stress is very important to get best performance. Let’s discuss
some of the ways to reduce stress:
1. Get organized:
Make a schedule for studying. In this schedule everything should be included
i.e. time slot to study, play, sleep, refreshments, watching tv or playing with
mobile. And effort should be made follow the schedule prepared.
2. Give yourself targets: every morning give yourself targets which you have to complete within a
timeframe. And mind you please give yourself realistic targets.
3. Reward yourself when you achieve your target. When you finish your studies within
time then reward yourself with a round of mobile game or a chocolate or a chat
with your friend, etc.
4. Use positive affirmations for yourself: like
·
I
am studying hard.
·
I
will do well in exams.
·
I
covered all my syllabus and I can handle all the questions.
·
I
am enjoying my studies.
5. Go for a short walk: When you feel nervous, go for a short walk and think positive about
yourself.
6. Give preference to conceptual learning rather than rote learning. This will boost up your confidence.
7. Take a proper sleep of 8 hours so that your mind gets enough relaxation.
8. Don’t mess up your study table with a lot of books and copies. When you are studying cover up one
topic or chapter at a time, don’t get messed up with where to start, what to
study first etc. be focused and start according to the syllabus.
9. Manage your time smartly.
10.
Believe in yourself: Don’t panic for marks rather
concentrate on conceptual clarity and stop worrying for result. Do your studies
seriously and focus more on those points in which you are weak. While studying
don’t ever think of how my result will be? Just have faith in your hard work
and it will pay you in turn.
Remember
the lines of the lord Krishna from Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta
“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते माफलेषुकदाचन ।
माकर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोस्त्वकर्मणि ।।
This shlok literally
means that you are entitled to do your duty and action, but never to the
results of your actions.
Let not the results be your motivation, and do not be attached
to laziness and inaction.
So, students get up and work hard and don’t let
the stress hamper your way to success. And do remember that no one can stop a
self-motivated person from getting success.








