With exam season fast approaching, it is inevitable that many will experience exam stress. However elevated levels of stress can have adverse effects on our mental and physical health, ultimately impacting how we perform in our exams. Therefore, with GCSEs and A-levels approaching, it is crucial that we keep stress levels down. 

The first method which ensures exam stress is kept to a minimum is setting yourself realistic and attainable goals. Whilst you may feel overwhelmed with topics and subjects to study, setting yourself unrealistic and overambitious goals for revision and grades will only overwhelm you more, increasing stress levels and sometimes even putting you off revision all together! A better approach to take, keeping stress to a minimum, is to set yourself realistic goals. This way, once you have achieved these goals, you will feel a sense of relief and tranquillity, knowing that you are on track at a pace that is right for you! 

The next method, which is scientifically proven to alleviate exam stress, is to socialise. Whilst you may feel that locking yourself away to revise for hours on end is the best approach, it is most beneficial for your well-being to get out and socialise with friends and family. Not only will this take your mind off exams, but it also provides the perfect opportunity to breathe and release any stress that may be building up.

The power a good night's sleep can hold cannot be overstated enough. Humans require an adequate night's sleep for regular day to day functions, meaning that in times of extreme academic pressure our needs are even deeper. Getting around 8 to 10 hours sleep each night ensures brain activity can be at the best of its ability, setting the foundations for academic successes and overall lower levels of stress. Sleep also helps you to release any built-up stress you may have accumulated over a period of studying, allowing you to wake up rejuvenated and renewed.  

Finally, finding the right revision methods for you is crucial to a productive and stress-free run up to exams. Each individual person has their own methods in which they learn most efficiently, and finding yours will help you become more successful in the work you do, as well as reducing stress. An effective way to find revision techniques you will benefit from most is by finding out whether you are a visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic learner (this can be done on a plethora of online sites).  

Exam stress may make you feel isolated, overwhelmed, and suffocated. However, it is crucial that you take time for yourself, breathe, and make sure your mental and physical well-being is prioritised. In implementing these tips, you should feel the clutch of exam stress alleviate.