How not to lose yourself in the race for grades
Studying is a stressful and exciting time for applicants. There’s so much hard study and preparation for exams, and then there’s the state certification and university admission. Together with the expert, we understand how to preserve strength, support yourself, and not forget why you need to study at all.
Studying requires a lot of intellectual effort from a high school student, so it is not surprising that teenagers are tired at the end of the year. Exams, on the other hand, add emotional stress. Constant stress negatively affects academic performance and quality of life, and its symptoms are varied:
- depressed mood, irritability, and emotional burnout;
- deterioration of cognitive functions: memory, attention and concentration;
- difficulty falling asleep and chronic fatigue;
- weakened immunity, which leads to a worsening of colds;
- physical malaise: overworked schoolchildren have headaches and nausea, unreasonably high blood pressure, and rapid or disrupted heartbeat.
All of these unpleasant consequences can be avoided by contacting a write my essays service or learning to relieve emotional stress in time. To do this, students need to balance preparation for exams, work with motivation and take care of themselves during a period of intense study.
Preparing for exams
It seems that in the pre-examination period every minute counts – you need to have time to repeat all the topics and solve tests and exercises. In front of you is not easy at first sight: to organize their work so that effectively prepare for exams and at the same time – not burn out. Even though studying at this time is a priority for students, you need to remember about rest, a healthy lifestyle, and communication with loved ones. Keeping a balance between intensive work and personal life will help the following rules:
It is necessary to distribute the remaining topics and tasks for repetition by day, so as not to do everything in a hurry at the very last moment. Remember that in the evening before the exam it is better to rest from preparation, and at night get a good night’s sleep.
Try to study in the first half of the day, when the body has more energy, and your eyes are not tired from artificial light. The evening can be left for repeating what you’ve learned, planning things, and for resting. This will help maintain a normal sleep pattern.
Complex and large tasks should be broken down into smaller ones. Many students are motivated by the use of a planner or a diary: they can keep a to-do list and mark the amount of work done.
It is not necessary to radically refuse the devices, but it is desirable to establish for yourself some frameworks for their use. For example, it is better to put away your phone during the study, so that you don’t get distracted, don’t scatter your attention, and have time to do more things in a day.
It is important not only how we work, but also where we work. Prepare a cozy and comfortable place to study, so that you will be pleased to return there.
Tools for recovering strength
In conditions of physical exhaustion, even a motivated person finds it hard to work. Sooner or later fatigue will make itself felt, so in the period of preparation for exams you can not forget about the sleep regime, walks, a healthy diet, and sports. Without all of this, it is simply not possible to study fully. In addition, burnout can manifest itself on the exam itself, greatly reducing the student’s cognitive functions and test results. Self-help during the preparation period is first and foremost about combating burnout. Here are 7 tips with which getting through this time will be easier:
- The regimen of the day. Students and applicants need to get enough sleep (8 to 10 hours of night sleep), take breaks every 30 minutes for eye exercises, and change activities every 2-3 hours. Changing activities does not mean a new school subject, but some physical activity – sports, walking, cleaning.
- A balanced diet. The diet should include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, fiber, and the right amount of calories in your meals. It is important to eat well so that you have enough energy for intensive intellectual activity.
- Physical activity. Try to exercise regularly, dance, walk more or do any sport you like. Physical activity lifts your mood, improves sleep quality, relieves stress, and even helps with learning. According to the WHO, teenagers need physical activity of any intensity at least 60 minutes a day, aerobic (running, swimming, volleyball, and other games) 3 times a week, and power (squats, push-ups, and other sets of exercises that strengthen the muscles) – 2 times a week.
- Rest. It can be both active and relaxing – the main thing is that the activity suits you. Simple ways to relieve nervous and mental tension and restore energy: sports, contrast showers, monotonous activities (cleaning, embroidery, coloring, and others), loud singing or shouting, dancing, breathing exercises, candlelight contemplation, active walks, listening to your favorite music or watching movies.
- Personal boundaries. On the eve of exams, friends may resent that you spend little time with them, and teachers and parents on the contrary – accuse you of laziness. It is necessary to calmly, but tactfully abstract from this. Remember that you are responsible for your studies, and therefore you should be the first to control the process of preparation.
- Requests for help. No matter whether it’s related to preparation, rest or health – accept the help and support of people close to you, for example, divide responsibilities and household chores with your family, and prepare for exams – together with your friends.
- Fear of mistakes. Whatever the result of practice or real test, don’t beat yourself up. No one is immune to failure, but don’t put too much weight on it. It’s better to concentrate on your goals and objectives. If exams scare you, remember why they are useful and important: thanks to them you can check and confirm your knowledge, learn a lot in preparation, master the subject more deeply and, of course, go to university or college to continue your studies. You can talk to parents and teachers about their experiences on exams-these stories can calm and reassure you in moments of anxiety.
