Keeping it Together: How to Go About Dealing with the Stress of Final Exams

I’m an absolute nervous wreck. I’m taking four classes this term and exams for each are coming up next week. I’ll admit, I’m a procrastinator. Not once throughout the term have I gone through my notes or studied. During regular testing, I always waited until the night before to go over the material. Luckily, I’ve passed all of my tests, but barely. The final exams are entirely different. I’ll have to go over ALL of the material we’ve gone through since August and I’m feeling extremely overwhelmed. I regret waiting until the last minute, and it’s my own fault if I fail. I just wish I could go back and redo everything to get it all right.

College students, high schoolers, middle schoolers and even some elementary students are certainly aware of just how stressful final exams can be. December is seen mostly as a joyous period, but for kids of all ages, this time of year can result in nail biting and hours of studying. Although the fall terms for many students are almost up, what can you do to prepare for the spring or summer exam sessions?

Rice Psychology Group understands that stress doesn’t only affect career-driven people or those short on money. It can also greatly affect students of all ages. Contact us today if you’re feeling overwhelmed by life’s obstacles.

Get in the Mindset

It’s important to remember that in order to prepare for the end of a school term, it’s best to plan at the beginning by getting into the right mindset. Here are a few things to keep in mind when school stress starts getting the better of you:

• Your work will get done and no distractions will deter you from completing what you’re doing. This includes preventing yourself from becoming distracted with TV, the Internet or friends wanting to spend time with you.
• Plan out specific times throughout the week to do homework or study.
• If you struggled to study but managed to pull off an A before in the past, then encourage yourself that you can do it again by remaining resilient.

Take it Easy

One of the reasons stress gets the best of many students is because they allow it to. Share on X

Don’t panic! One of the reasons stress gets the best of many students is because they allow it to. If you start feeling that your studying is going nowhere or if you can’t retain information because you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, take a break. Sit back, relax and calm yourself. Take as much time as you need, but like we mentioned earlier, don’t allow yourself to get distracted by time-consuming activities like Internet browsing. Get up and walk around a bit, or if you have a pet, spend a few minutes with him/her to ease your mind.

Stick with the Present

When worrying about tests, some kids can’t help but wonder what will happen in the future. You yourself may have thought in the past, “I can’t study, I’m not retaining anything! When it’s time to take the exam, I won’t know what to do.” Again, relax. Don’t worry about the future and focus on what’s happening now.

When worrying about tests, some kids can’t help but wonder what will happen in the future. Share on X

Think to yourself that in the present, you’re in control. The future is nothing to worry about as long as you’re in the mindset that focusing on the present is what’s important. Becoming worried won’t change the fact that you have studying to do, and that fear can overcome you and place you in the wrong mindset. By thinking to yourself that working hard now and tackling what needs to be done will give you more positive expectations of the future.

Think to yourself that in the present, you’re in control. Share on X

Use Pressure to Your Advantage

There’s actually something good about being under pressure and having deadlines; they force you to prioritize your time much more effectively. If you have an exam in eight days, then you know that the next seven days definitely need to be used for studying. Like we mentioned above, take this time and plan out how you’ll spend it. If you have 14 chapters to read up on, read two each day.

Also, prioritize which subjects you’re having more trouble with. Focus more on those than the ones you’re relatively familiar with, but this doesn’t mean excluding easier subjects altogether. And most importantly, don’t overdo it. Don’t spend all day with your nose in a book and shut off from the rest of the world. Take a few hours to yourself to relax.

Don’t do it Alone

Study groups are real lifesavers for students. There’s nothing more comforting than knowing that others also have to do what you’re doing. Set up study groups with a few fellow students to go over notes and important points. Quiz each other, take breaks together and read important subject matters out loud.

This form of camaraderie creates bonds and memories that can help you when it’s time to take an exam. If you get stuck on a question, remember which member of the study group explained it to you. It just might jog your memory for an answer!

Helping You with Life’s Hurdles

There are some things in life that we all go through, and dealing with final exams is one of them. Sometimes it can get hard to deal with certain things, which is why Rice Psychology Group is here to help. Our licensed psychologists want nothing more than to help you overcome your troubles in a stress-free and positive manner. Contact us in Tampa today to learn more about what we can do to help you.