Managing Study Stress
Stress is a normal part of life, and our body’s stress reaction is designed to protect us from danger via our ‘fight or flight’ response.
Our stress response can be activated by both physical and psychological stress –which explains why many students feel stressed when assessments and exam periods are looming.
Stress can be helpful in moderation to improve motivation and help us perform at our best; however, too much stress can reduce our ability to concentrate. It can also lead to unhelpful behaviours such as procrastination!
Try the following ways to help manage study stress:
- Set SMART goals and create a study timetable (make sure to to schedule in time for breaks!)
- Make time for relaxation - e.g., via exercise, spending time outdoors, or meditation (see mindfulness activities here)
- Be mindful of procrastination. The key to tackling procrastination is to persist with the task! You could try:
- Breaking study down into 10-15 minute increments ('study grazing'), asking friends or family to check in and keep you on track, start writing a draft, switching task, and/or using rewards.