As we head into summer term, we also approach exam season. This is the time of the final push. Fatigue and stress may be setting in. The pre-exam period is one of the busiest times in our Accessible Learning and Wellbeing Drop-in service. Staff speak to many students about coping with academic stress, fear of failure and concerns about the impact of declining mental health on academic progression. There is a blog specifically explaining how to seek support if difficulties arise in the assessment period. The aim of this blog is to help you with that final push- the motivation and resilience to keep going when you start to question yourself or feel like you are flagging.
Here are some things to remind yourself of when preparing for exams:
- This is temporary. In a matter of weeks, your exams will be over and you can make different choices of how to spend your time.
- You chose to study for a reason. What were those reasons? Were they related to the future career you plan on or the values you hold? It can help to remind ourselves of the why.
- You are doing the best you can with the resources that you have. So many students attend Drop-in with the ‘shoulds’. If you change the language to a ‘could’, it becomes less judgemental- Instead of “I should be studying more”, turn it to “I could be studying more but I am too tired and have to protect my health for the best chance of success.” It helps you rationalise the reasoning for your choice.
- You will have the best chance of success if you are operating at your best- this means being in good health with the most positive mindset. In order to do this, it is back to basics- sleep, diet, exercise and breaks!
- Stay in your own lane- it is easy to compare your work rate with others around you but this is not helpful. Shame does not motivate, it paralyses. Every person has their own situation, resources and dragons to slay.
- The outcome of the exam does not define your worth. Your value as a human being is unrelated to your ability to score highly in an assessment.
- Focus on the now. What is in your control right this minute? Getting lost in the ‘what ifs’ can cause panic, leading to lower productivity.
Very often, our values system will dictate our response to a situation. It can be helpful to identify what your values are- i.e. what is most important to you. If for instance, leisure or rest are very important to you, procrastination or distraction might be an issue when revising. However, if these values are very low on your priority list, you may struggle to take breaks or find balance in your studies. If success or achievement are most important, you may be more motivated. However, it can be easy to push yourself too hard, resulting in burnout. Sometimes we hold conflicting values which can lead to a feeling of discomfort- for instance if financial stability or living comfortably are important, you may be working part-time which can conflict with study time. This is the same if family is important and you are having to choose between family events and study commitments. It can help to rationalise your current choices by considering the long-term implications. There is a link to an exercise below that can help you identify your values. You can then relate this to how you feel about your studies and then actively prioritise which are most important at this moment. This may involve letting go of other values (a process of working through the stages before reaching acceptance) even if it is only on a temporary basis.
valuescardsort_0.pdf (motivationalinterviewing.org)
Remember, you have made it this far. You had the skills to get to this point, so you can rely on those same skills now. Negative thoughts and self-doubt can be debilitating. Look on this as a learning experience rather than an opportunity for failure and consider Nelson Mandela’s words: “I never lose. I either win or I learn.”
Final reminder: if you are struggling, reach out for help! This can be to friends, family or support services such as The Learning Development Service. You can also contact us in the Accessible Learning and Wellbeing Drop-in or through the Wellbeing Services online form.
Helpful links-
Talk Campus Wellness Centre- TalkCampus
Take 5 steps to wellbeing – Inspire Student Hub (inspiresupporthub.org)
Assessment Support Hub – Home (sharepoint.com)
One-to-One Appointments | Student Centre | Queen’s University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)
Studying and stress – Inspire Student Hub (inspiresupporthub.org)Mind Your Mood (@qubmindyourmood) • Instagram photos and videos
Ed Sipler – Bend Don_t Break.pdf (hscni.net)
Learning Development Service:
One-to-One Appointments | Student Centre | Queen’s University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)