Exams : Coping with Stress Problems

With exams just around the corner, here are a few tips that may help alleviate some of the stress and pressure:

Things that don't work

• Drugs and alcohol - they don't solve the problem and they make you feel worse in the long run.
• Smoking, even though it may make you feel relaxed for a few minutes, doesn't help for long.  The effect of the nicotine is that your heart beats faster, blood pressure rises and your body has to work harder.
• More of the same - keeping on trying to do everything and building the stress.
• Drinking a lot of coffee or cola drinks - the caffeine can keep you going for a while but it can also make you more tense and irritable, and less able to do what you need to.
• Always having to win discussions or arguments.
• Setting really high goals for yourself so that you can never achieve them and have to keep trying harder and harder.

Things that work  

• Be organised. Think about what you do. Make a list of the most important. Drop some things off the bottom if you have to.
• Learn to know your own symptoms of stress so you can take action when you feel them building up.
• Take time out - time for relaxation, fun and exercise - all important in reducing stress. Physical activity is a really important way to lower your stress.
• Stay in contact with friends.  Talking things over can help you "keep things in proportion".
• Change what you say to yourself - eg say "I think I can" instead of "I know I can't", "I'll try" instead of "I have to".
• Learn to meditate or do yoga.
• A massage or spa bath can be relaxing.
• Watch what you eat and drink. A healthy diet with fruit rather than sugary sweets for snacks is best for reducing stress. It seems that chocolate has some chemicals in it that help people feel better, so eating chocolate rather than other sweets may be best if you really want something sweet.
• Don't try to be perfect. Most people prefer others who are simply human like themselves, with some good qualities and a few things they aren't so good at.
• If you know what relaxes you - try doing that. This can be different for different people, for some it might be reading, for others music or gardening, or going for a run with the dog.