5 Tips to Beat Exam Stress

When we're stressed, our brains release high levels of cortisol which clouds the way we think and gets in the way of rational thoughts. Therefore, stressing about this stuff is likely to lead to you performing less wellon exam day than if you were totally nonplussed - it's a cruel world!

In the long-run, taking steps to de-stress will increase your productivity, help you absorb more of the information you take in, and stop you from having a breakdown. Wins all round!

1.Prioritise your time

Prioritising your time, subjects and workload will help reduce your stress levels, as you'll be able to ensure that the really important stuff is covered - and at the right time.

If you've got more than one exam to tackle, draw out a simple diagram with dates of each exam and how many topics need covered for each. This will give you a clear idea of how much time you need to dedicate to each exam topic and when you need to get started on your revision, so there won't be any nasty surprises.

As you progress through your revision, tick off the topics that you've completed – this will give you a small sense of achievement, knowing that you've finished something and are making your way to the finish line.

2.Get organised

This is pretty closely related to the tip above, but we can't stress enough how taking a bit of time to get yourself in order will make you feel more confident for these exams.

As our handy six-step guide to becoming the most organised person on the planet so rightly states, keeping a diary and writing to-do lists each day will keep you super prepared and on track to getting everything done - and on time.

Working out a daily routine and sticking to it is also good for the soul, as you'll feel a lot more in control of how your day pans out. Remember to factor in regular breaks (we recommend at least ten minutes every hour and a half or so, if not more) as these will do you wonders.

3.Exercise and eat well

Yeah, we know, you're exhausted. Sometimes the idea of exercising during times of high stress feels like the last thing you want to do, but we guarantee you will feel better afterwards (and could even have a bit more energy to do an hour more revision afterwards if you're feeling up to it).

Exercise gets your blood flowing and your heart pumping – the result being that you sort of 'wake up on the inside'. As a result, once you stop, you're much more alert then you were before.

Eating the right foods during stressful times is also absolutely crucial for mental health – we have an entire list of the best foods to eat during exam time for you to check out.

4.Avoid social media

This will be a tough one for many students, but if you can bear to part with your beloved Instagram for a few days, it'll do wonders for your stress levels.

Checking your Facebook during revision period is the worst type of procrastination possible, as we all know how quickly the time disappears when you're snooping on your news feed.

In addition to this, many of your friends will be in the same boat, so are likely to be talking a lot about how much they're studying (or not studying). This is likely to stress you out even more, or at least influence how much time you're spending revising.

If you need a bit of help unchaining yourself from your phone, give the Hold app a go. Hold gives you real rewards (including Amazon vouchers, cinema tickets and free coffee) for simply avoiding the use of your phone.

You get points every 20 minutes, meaning you can break up your revision periods with some well-earned rests (and well-needed - science says that revision is much less effective if you studyfor any longer than about 90 minutes straight!) every now and then.

5.Give yourself a break

This is perhaps easier said than done, but try not to give yourself such a hard time. You're doing your best and that's the best you can do!

Putting yourself under a lot of pressure will only have a negative effect, and as much of a cliché as this is, worrying really doesn't solve anything.

Being good to yourself during periods of high stress is likely to give you a bit more motivation to work harder, so try splashing out on a massage to cheer yourself up, or go out for dinner with a friend to take your mind off things.

You've probably managed to save a bit of money by not going out much during exam period, so now's the time to spend it!