Everyone feels stress at certain points of their life. Stress affects the way you think, but it also has an impact on your body. This is why it’s important to take care of your mind as well as your body. As students it’s often hard to make time for ourselves, which leads to increased stress. However, by adjusting the way we treat our bodies and mind we can help reduce the impact of stress on our lives.
Maintaining a healthy body:
- Eat a balanced diet- refer to Canada Food Guide
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night & turn phone to silent when going to bed
- Exercise regularly
- Restrict the amount of caffeine in your diet
Maintaining a healthy mind:
- Speak openly about your feelings, in a respectful way
- Have someone you can talk to, that you trust
- Set aside time for yourself to relax
- Imagery/ meditation
Tips for Proven Stress Reducers:
- Don’t rely on your memory- write down appointments, tests dates, etc.
- Do NOT procrastinate
- Plan ahead- be prepared for what’s ahead
- Set reasonable goals for yourself
- Wake up 15 minutes earlier to have a less stressful start to the day
Stress Management during Exams
Plan Ahead– Being unprepared is the most common cause of exam anxiety. Make a detailed schedule including breaks, ensuring a 10-minute break every hour. This is needed because the brain loses its ability to absorb new information effectively after only an hour. Having a plan puts you in control.
Studying- Take advantage of study sheets and study groups, but don’t rely exclusively on them. Also don’t be afraid to go to your instructor for clarification. Try to create a study environment with limited distractions and good lighting.
Stay Positive!– Set reasonable goals for yourself and focus on learning rather than grades, this relieves the pressure and increases productivity. Work on what you have control over; don’t dwell on the things out of your control. Finally, keep things in perspective!
Resources:
www.facebook.com/truwellnesscentre
TRU Counselling Centre
Canada’s Food Guide
Primer Fact Sheets |2009| Anxiety [youth version] www.HereToHelp.bc.ca
