One of the most stressful times of the year comes at the time of final exams or before an entrance exam. In US, almost 60% of college students report they are experiencing more than average amounts of stress during the year. More than 33% students feel that stress affects them negatively.
In India too, stress is emerging as a major problem for students. More than 16 lac students appear for NEET UG entrance exam for almost 60,000 MBBS seats in medical colleges in India each year. There are more than 20 lac students who appear for various engineering colleges admission tests in India for BTech course, including 12 lac register for JEE Mains every year. And these are just two courses! There are 20,000 more courses. Imagine the stress each students goes through about succeeding in the admission process as well about career and job prospects in India.
Just recognition of the fact that, exam stress exists and one has to deal with it is a very important step in managing it. There are ways to fight exam and study related stress. Here are a few tips to fight it out:
1. Accept stress as a reality. Don’t avoid stress as it is not going to go away. So don’t believe statements like that forget about the stress. It will have a negative effect. Knowing that stress is going to stay will help you cope with it better.
2. Avoid stress free sessions. There are none; instead discuss about stress, think about it and find ways to accept it.
3. Change the way you consider stress: believe that stress will bring better results and it does happen. Positivity will always help.
4. Give a meaning to stress: it will bring success, glory and a better life. As exams have to be taken, doing well has its rewards. Thus living with stress for a while will bring in realization of dreams and achievement of goals.
5. Establish, maintain and reach out to your support network you are comfortable with: friends, relations or teachers.
6. Adopt a sense of gratitude, which leads to better mental health: lot of people are helping you one way or the other.
7. Help fellow students: talk to them, share your worries and suggest solutions for them. It helps bring positivity.
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