3 easy steps to stress-free revision

Revising can be stressful and overwhelming. These 3 steps can reduce your stress and help you manage your time and workload effectively. Good luck!revision

Part One – TIME MANAGEMENT

  • Draw up a revision timetable. Make sure it’s realistic for you. Don’t compare yourself to what others are doing – even if your friend has read Macbeth 14 times, don’t panic. Do what works for you.
  • When do you work best? Are you an early bird or a night owl? Plan your timetable to take this into account.
  • Do you need to sit at a tidy and ordered desk or do you prefer to sprawl out on the bed surrounded by your notes? Wherever is comfortable for you is the best place to be.
  • No one can concentrate for 6 hours straight, so plan smaller chunks of revision and include lots of breaks. See the Pomodoro technique for some great tips on time management.
  • Vary your timetable so that you don’t get bored. No one can survive 4 hours of flat out biology! Mix up the subjects so that your brain doesn’t switch off.

Part Two –LOOK AFTER YOURSELF & RELAX

It’s important to build some relaxation time into your revision timetable.

  • Reward yourself – take regular breaks and plan some rewards. Maybe take the afternoon off to go to the cinema with friends. Allow yourself an hour of Netflix/Xbox/Playstation in the middle of maths revision. How about going for a walk before tackling history? Plan something to celebrate the end of exams with friends or family.
  • Talk – Virtually everyone finds revision and exams stressful – there won’t be many of your friends who breeze through the coming weeks and months. So you aren’t alone. Share your worries with friends, family, teachers etc and get some support.
  • Look after yourself – eat well, eat healthily with plenty of carbs to fuel your brain. Avoid tonnes of chocolate and litres of caffeine-heavy energy drinks – this will only make you more jittery and less able to concentrate.
  • Exercise – Get outside and do something to clear your head, move your body and release any physical tension that has built up whilst you’ve been hunched over your books.
  • RelaxIf you are feeling stressed, find a calm and quiet place to sit and practice deep breathing or even try a visualisation.

Part 3 – SLEEP

  • Try and get plenty of sleep and avoid staying up to the small hours revising. After a certain time at night, your brain just won’t be able to absorb any more information.
  • If you have difficulty sleeping, there are lots of good tips on getting a good night’s sleep here.

If you are finding things difficult to cope with, Westend Counselling can support you in the run-up to and during exams. Contact us here.

 

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