Tackling Stress During Exams

Tackling Stress During Exams

Preparing for The Knowledge and Competency Assessment Tool (KCAT)? Exam time can be stressful for students of all levels, but it is easier to be successful in exams when you feel good, less stressed, and more productive!

Before we figure out how to tackle it, it’s very important to begin by understanding what exactly ‘stress’ is. The stress response is our brain’s way of telling us that there is a problem in the environment we need to deal with. This is the signal that causes us to adapt and become more resilient. However, the key is not just reducing the amount of stress we experience, but also learning how to best deal and cope with the stress.

Here are some great tips at your rescue that will help you reduce & deal with exam stress:

1. Remember to Breathe

● Set aside a couple minutes daily to practice mindfulness techniques, like breathing exercises. These will help calm your body and focus your attention to where it is needed, leaving you with a fresh mind to study much more effectively!

2. Eat, Sleep, and Exercise Well

● A healthy lifestyle = a healthy mind! Getting enough sleep, especially before exams, is crucial as it will help you remember what you’ve learned and studied. In addition, when your body has the fuel and nutrients it needs by eating nutritious food, you will function much better emotionally and physically. Exercising will give you boosts of energy since it gets your blood flowing and your heart pumping, which fills your brain with endorphins. Those are basically happy hormones, and thus a proven stressbuster!

3. Prioritize and Plan Out Your Time

● Creating simple diagrams or charts of due dates and topics you need to study is a great way to ensure that you’ll make your way to the finish line efficiently. As you progress through your revision, tick off the topics you’ve completed – this will give you a small sense of achievement and a boost of encouragement! Setting up a daily routine will help you stick to schedule and feel more in control of your day.

4. Use IEDNC’s Online Courses for Preparation

● In addition to planning out your study schedule, a great way to guide your learning is by taking online courses that target the particular content you need to learn. IEDNC offers a wide range of courses that can be very beneficial for preparation of dietetic exams; with audio-visual lectures, you can learn course content even while multi-tasking to save on time!

5. Learn Your Learning Style

● Everyone studies in different ways, and what works for someone else may not necessarily work for you too. To reduce and cope with exam stress, study in a way that suits your learning style! Some people study much more effectively in groups where they can discuss the material and learn together. Others may prefer to study individually and attempt doing mock exams. There are many different studying techniques; figure out what works best for you and stick to those to use your time efficiently.

6. Talk to Someone

● If you find that you are feeling overly stressed or are struggling, talk to someone. Asking for help is never shameful. Seek the company of your loved ones, such as family or friends, or reach out to your teachers for additional guidance. Alternatively, don’t be afraid to seek professional help or support. Often times, just talking about things can help one feel better and put things into perspective. Remember, emotional and physical wellbeing is the basis of success in any task!

Written by Prabhnoor Grover, Chief Editor, IEDNC

Reviewed by: Manmeet Behl, RD, NM,CDE

Updated on December 30, 2020