Beat the Stress!

     

With the Leaving coming up in June, it's safe to say I'm stressed.

I try to take time out each day to relax and these are my favourite ways to do so!

Take time out to just listen to the world around you. Whether it's outside or in your room, just sit down and breathe. Take a few deep breaths in and out. Do this for as long as you need and I guarantee, you'll feel better afterwards!

Go out and get some exercise. Go for a walk or jog, whatever you prefer. Clear your mind and get some fresh air. You will feel more focused afterwards and will be ready to tackle your study!

If you put the work in before an exam, you'll feel a lot calmer walking into the exam. Find what works for you. Whether it's mind maps, diagrams or just notes, prep them in advance. Doing the work beforehand will help reduce stress the night before and the morning of the exam!

I always have trouble sleeping the night before important exams. Putting some lavender oil on my pillow and duvet really helps me get to sleep a lot faster. Lavender oil is also known for its calming effect on the body.

You need down time as well. I love to spend an evening in the bath, with Netflix and a drink. I just relax for an hour or two, and leave the room feeling calm and ready for a good night's rest. Spend an evening doing something you love every week. Go to the cinema, go out with friends, have a movie night. 

Well there you have it,

My favourite things to do the reduce my stress levels.

What do you do to help reduce your stress levels?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

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Exam Hints and Tips

Christmas exams have slowly crept up on everyone. Mine started today and I will be finished on Monday the 8th!

I stress easily. I hate the run-up to exams because I usually end up thinking I will fail but thankfully that has never happened :)

I have compiled my favourite exam hints and tips to help everyone through the grueling exam period.

1. Study in a quiet environment. If you study listening to music, that's fine. However you should not study somewhere full of  unnecessary and distracting noise.
2. LEAVE YOUR PHONE DOWNSTAIRS. I cannot stress this enough. Having your phone near you will only lead to distractions.
   
3. Get plenty of sleep in the nights leading up to exams. Although seven to eight hours of sleep is great, eight to ten hours is even better!
4. Start to study as early as possible. Studying the night before will only send you into a panicked frenzy.
   
5. Allocate your time to each subject. Some subjects will need more time than others and creating a timetable with benefit you greatly.
6. Ask for help. If you do not understand something, go to your teacher and ask them to explain. You are probably not the only one in your class that is confused and other people will be happy that you asked!
   
7. Find your most productive time and work during those hours. There is no point in studying early in the morning if you are tired and distracted. Find a time during the day and use it to your advantage.
8. Make notes! Whether you learn from diagrams, bullet points are fully written answers. Write them out and use flashcards to jog your memory!
   
9. Eat healthily during exam times, don't use the stress and lack of time as an excuse. Make snacks the night before like fruit, nuts and popcorn.
10. Take time to relax, A nice bath the night before an exam or a cup of tea curled up in bed will help you get into a calm mind-frame for the exam the next day.
    

TAKE BREAKS. I LITERALLY CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. YOUR BRAIN CAN ONLY CONCENTRATE FOR FORTY MINUTES AT TIME. TAKE A TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTE BREAK AFTER FORTY MINUTES!

Do you have any study tips?

Did any of these help you?

Let me know in the comments below!

Good luck to everyone during their exams!

xoxo,

Ciara.