Few things can be as stressful and anxiety-inducing as exam season. It’s that time of the year when students have to hunker down, study a lot, and prepare to prove everything they have learned in school.
But you don’t want to feel stressed out and anxious. Instead, you want to be cool, calm, and collected when you are taking an exam.
Thankfully, even if you are incredibly stressed out, there are things you can do for yourself that will alleviate at least some of the anxiety that comes when you’re getting ready for a test at school.
Breathing
Let’s start with something that seems straightforward but can actually make a world of difference: breathing. Yes, that’s right, something as easy as breathing can have a major impact on your anxiety and can practically take it away when it’s studied and used correctly.
There is so much you have to study when you’re getting ready for an exam. That is doubly true when you’re attempting to be a lawyer because there are a plethora of bar subjects that you have to know inside and out. Understandably, attempting to cram all that information into your brain can lead to serious stress and anxiety.
In times of high stress, our breathing can get shallow and halting when we aren’t aware of it. But we can ground ourselves in the present by focusing on our breath. One of the most useful techniques is known as diaphragmatic breathing, also called abdominal breathing.
How is this done? Well, it’s rather simple. To start, you must sit comfortably, place a hand on your stomach, and breathe slowly and deeply through your nose. In and out, in and out – that is what you want to focus on.
When you are doing this, pay attention to the sensation of your abdomen rising and then slowly and softly falling. This kind of breathing triggers your body’s nervous system, which tells the brain to unwind and relax.
After just a few minutes of practice, your levels of anxiety will decrease, and you’ll find calm. And if you do this daily, your anxiety could eventually dissipate completely.
Meditation
Meditation is another effective mindfulness exercise that doesn’t need a complex, complicated location, tools, or even that much experience. Plus, you can do it often, even if you don’t have a whole lot of time to spare.
Just find a place to sit down, get comfortable, and let the meditation begin.
Close your eyes and picture yourself in a totally white location, surrounding you with peace, calm, and quietness. Concentrate solely on the feeling of air flowing in and out of your nose as you continue to keep your mind’s eye on the totally white room.
This idea may seem far too simple to be effective, and you may doubt whether it will work for you. However, the strength of meditation lies in its level of simplicity.
Your mind may be filled up with thoughts such as “Have I memorized that answer?” or “What if I forget the essay?” The goal here is not to prevent thinking.
Instead, you should try to gently recognize those thoughts and then attempt to refocus on your breathing. It’s always about going back to your breathing. Over time, this helps your brain learn to distance itself from the disorder and find peace even when faced with pressure.
Mindful Movement
For people who believe that sitting meditation is too immobile and don’t like the idea of sitting still for an extended amount of time, mindful movement could be the solution that helps with exam-related jitters.
Yoga, tai chi, and other forms of mild exercise will help you focus on being aware of your body, your surroundings, and your feelings. And, just like that, they will start to go away.
Also, remember that a basic series of stretches can also have a powerful and calming effect. So, attempt to stand up straight, extend your arms above your head, and then bend forward to reach for your toes. You’ll be surprised by how much it helps.
Conclusion
As you can see, it doesn’t take much to help combat anxiety related to your exams. With just a bit of time, a bit of space, and a bit of practicing, you will find what works for you and the best method for soothing your mind so you can get into your classroom, bust out your exam, and prove the sort of student you are.
No matter what you’re studying or how you feel about tests, you should definitely try to practice these anxiety-reducing techniques.
