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Coping with Exam Stress During the Holiday Season
With the holiday break right around the corner, stress and anxiety often tend to take over. This is particular in students as they push through the final wave of their academics and exams. Balancing exams, relationships, commitments, physical & mental health can be challenging. Although in this article we are here to offer tips on what you can do to reduce this stress, especially as the winter blues start to kick in for some people.
1.Procrastination and time management
Attend study workshops offered in your University or College, if you are struggling to find a study routine that works for you. Or, if you're comfortable try reaching out to your professors! Remember it is always better to start later than never.
Plan your study sessions a few days in advance and make a list of topics to cover, to make it easier to focus during study time. Keep in mind to make reasonable goals even if it may be to study up to thirty minutes over the course of a week. This may be more productive and motivating to work through. Additionally, this approach can help prevent the overload of coursework and prevent you from falling into procrastination.
2. Make use of counseling services!
Like academic counseling offered on campus, there is also mental health counseling. Make use of these resources on campus as this can be a crucial step in taking care of your mental health. Find out what supports your campus can offer you and use these resources to the best of your advantage!
3. Positive thoughts and affirmations
Say positive affirmations to yourself. If you find it difficult or awkward to say these affirmations aloud, try writing them down instead. This can be an effective way to boost self-confidence and mood.
4. Connect with others!
Connecting with others has a strong correlation with mental health. Social interactions can provide emotional support, reduce feelings of isolation and improve well-being. Social connections – like family, friends, peers help release oxytocin, a happy hormone! You can also connect with peers in the library or group sessions, but It is also important to stay in touch with family and friends to maintain a healthy mindset during exam season.
5. Taking care of yourself Remember to engage in self-care practices as this is also an essential part of caring for your mental health. Things like warm baths, spa days, a night out with friends are all things that count towards self-care time. Overall, managing stress, keeping good study/sleep habits and making time for doing things you enjoy are all steps that count towards bettering your mental health during the holiday season!
Here are some other resources that may help!
