How do you handle stress?

In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>

Hello Olivia,

It is quite natural while preparing for examination, more-so, now a days because of increased competition, new challenges of modern times, peer pressure...and overloaded curriculum. Nevertheless, challenges have to be converted into opportunities and the reach new milestones, once traversed/achieved it gives immense satisfaction and self confidence. Now the question is how to deal with it?

You have to identify the origin of fear (which subject) or is it in general? once you get to know your area of weakness (which triggers fear/nervousness), you have to catch the bull by horn. In my case, I was pretty much afraid of Advance Mathematics, tougher than general mathematics. I even failed in half yearly examination. Imagine, a topper of the class failing in maths, unthinkable! So, I needed help and that came from my elder sister, who coached me to tackle the subject with patience. After finishing one round of practice by self, of course, with due clarifications of concepts by our maths teacher, regular mock tests (once a week) for three months, I topped again. So you need to face that challenge once, need help, do seek from your parents/family members/teachers or you can hire tutors as well. In case you have a general kind of fear of exam not of a particular subject. But in both the cases then you do your studies as you do normally, but top it up with mental revision (In India we call it chintan/manan, revisit the subject with eyes closed) and follow it up by writing answers minimum twice. The formula is : Read - once, chintan/manan-twice and reproduce/write-thrice. Practice this for all those papers which are difficult for you.

Keep a healthy routine and study cycle, make sure you play for a while or go for walk or run, eat well but don't overdo that as that happens in many cases because of stress. And if you can do meditation for 20 minutes at least once a day would be wonderful!

Olivia,

When you have self-confidence, you will be less stressed. Confidence comes from being prepared. Rather than cramming, stay on top of your classes. Do not wait until test time to try to absorb it all! I actually found that it was helpful to relax prior to a test. That is, study, relax, quickly review notes of complex material right before walking in for the test. On the test, if there is something you do not know, search for clues in the other questions. Sometimes you'd be surprised! Don't stress over the unknown. Do a really good job on the ones you know, and then, come back to the unknown.

If the test is multiple choice, I select an answer before class! Any letter will do. So, today I am picking the letter "B." For every question I cannot figure out, I will put B. It improves my odds of getting some of them correct, rather than going with random answers! If I can narrow it down somewhat, say, A, C, or E, I will always go with the letter on the left. Problem solved. Move on to the next one! This is not a substitute for studying, but will help you pick up 3 or 4 extra points.

It's also important to stay off the caffeine. Eat and sleep right. Take good care of your brain!

Kim