10 TIPS TO GET RID OF EXAMINATION STRESS

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.