Exam season is here, and it can feel like a lot to manage. Scarlett Anderman, Politics and International Relations student shares some simple, practical tips to help you manage exam stress, stay focused, and look after your wellbeing during this busy time.
The sun has come out, and with it, the revision notes. We all moved to uni to meet new friends, have fun, and gain that lovely bit of independence. But exams? What exams?!? We didn’t sign up for those…
It’s okay to be stressed about deadlines and tests: we all have to do them. And it’s difficult having to cook, clean, shop and hold up jobs, alongside our degrees. Adulthood, it turns out, can be quite a balancing act. Dealing with everything all at once can feel incredibly overwhelming. But, we all know that summer will come, and the panic will calm down.
For me, the build up to end of year exams are distracted by coursework. Each deadline looms over me, each paper as tough as walking Bathwick Hill. But to make the mountain easier to manage, I first timetable everything. Writing everything out helps me visualise all the upcoming deadlines and exams, and makes everything far less overwhelming. It’s helpful to colour code everything: coursework and exams separately, priorities in red. That way you can also plan everything else around it.
For example, I like to meal prep way in advance: focusing on long-lasting, healthy foods. My go-to is a vegetarian pasta bake: spinach for iron, packed with roasted vegetables, and sometimes I add vegan meat! I found veggie sausages *incredibly* reduced in the shop last week (every student's dream). Bulk cooking means I can lock myself in the library for an entire day, and not have to worry about what’s for tea.
It’s also vital that we take time for ourselves. We owe ourselves patience - doing a degree can be tricky, but we should be so proud of how far we’ve come. For one thing, exercise is great for our physical health, as well as our mental wellbeing. I personally like to go on long walks. Bath is incredibly beautiful, and I like to photograph the local wildlife to take a break from revision. The way I see it, on days when you’re too stressed or too tired from working, whatever revision you’re trying to do won’t really stick, so you may as well get some exercise in. Student Support offers activities like dog-walking to stretch your legs and meet cute animals! Plus, with the weather turning warm it is great to soak up that sunshine. Even a twenty-minute walk to see the sun set can be incredibly calming.
It can be nice to do these things with friends too! Everyone has deadlines and exams right now, so take some time out to make sure they’re doing okay. Socialising is a great way of staying connected with friends, why not try having a movie night to switch off from studying! Bonus points if it’s a comfort movie.
There’s also plenty of ways the university can support you! Student Support has a fantastic guide on Exam Anxiety that shows us techniques like mindfulness and the practical Pomodoro Timer for actually revising! Don’t forget that your Academic Advisor and Peer Mentors are also here to support you academically. Support is always here. And no matter what happens, you should be proud of how far you’ve come.
Summer is just around the corner and soon it will be time to relax!
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