When the exam period rolls around, feeling overwhelmed can become a common emotion. With lessons, homework and revision on your mind, it can be easy to feel like you are struggling to keep up with everything. The first thing that you should know is that you are not alone. A lot of people will be in the same boat as you. So, talk to your peers. Hearing that you’re not the only one finding it difficult to keep up will help you feel less alone. Also, chat with your teachers or your parents if you feel like you are seriously struggling, speaking up will always help. Other than that, here are a few tips that can help you feel a little bit less overwhelmed when it comes to exam time…
One great tip to take on board when you’re feeling overwhelmed is to take a step back from everything and write down exactly what you need to do. Once it’s all written down on paper, you can then assess the situation and crack on with revising certain topics or doing your homework to help you feel a bit more in control. Feeling overwhelmed comes from a lack of control, so once you start to take that control back, you begin to feel less overwhelmed.
Generally, the more organised and prepared you are when it comes to exam season, the less overwhelmed you will feel. So do future you some favours and don’t leave things, like revision or homework, until the last minute. Firstly, if you do, you simply won’t do as well, because last minute work is never our best work. Secondly, if you start revising early, it gives you a chance to seek help with certain topics or areas if you need it before it’s too late.
To be extra organised and prepared, you can make yourself a revision timetable. For example, you might plan to revise maths for an hour on Tuesday evenings or revise physics for half an hour on Saturday mornings. This way, you can ensure you cover all bases and get everything done that you need to.
As much as it may seem like you have to dedicate all your free time to revising, it is just as important to spend time away from revising. If you are revising all the time, you are putting unnecessary pressure on yourself and forgetting that you have a life outside of school. So, spend time doing things for yourself and doing things that you enjoy. This might be spending time with your family and friends, for example. Also, get outside! Spending all day in a classroom, and then extra hours revising indoors can add up to a lot of time indoors. So get some fresh air, go for a walk and it will do wonders for your productivity and mental health.
Rest is productive! If you’re not getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, when you do revise, it won’t be as effective. Also make sure that you’re drinking enough water each day, and eating well too. It’s easy to neglect your health when you’re focused on other things, like revising. But, staying hydrated and having a balanced diet will help with your brain functioning too!
If you think you are struggling with revising certain topics, or you don’t understand specific areas of a subject, don’t be afraid to seek help. When you’re struggling academically, it can add to you feeling overwhelmed, so there is no harm in getting help to overcome that. Why not reach out to us? Sign up for tutoring so we can give you academic support where you need it
Be kind to yourself and believe in yourself! You might feel overwhelmed now, and when you’re overwhelmed, you can lose confidence. But, remember, you can do it!
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