Student 1: “Maaaaaa I’m so stressed right now”

Student 2: “I know! Yesterday I ate a whole tub of Ben and Jerry’s just cause I felt like it, and I wasn’t even hungry”

This is a typical conversation you would hear if you eavesdrop on students talking on campus. I was not always a panicky student. In fact up to three years ago I used to spend the nights prior an exams watching TV, or browsing the internet, while my friends tore their hair out. Yet ever since my A levels, my exam stress levels mounted tremendously (thinking about that period makes me nauseous all over again).

Therefore throughout the past 2 years at university I have created a list of ways to deal with such stress.

My Top 10 ways

1.Set manageable weekly goals: not meeting goals is one of the most frustrating feelings, as it creates even more stress. Sticking to weekly challenges helps prevent this. In this way if you slack on one day, there will always be the other six to catch up.

2. Reward: It helps to set a clear reward as it gives you something to aim for and look forward to. Usually my rewards consist of generous shopping sprees sponsored by the money saved during the dark weeks, buying a wonderful gift for myself, or simply a day of complete relaxation and pampering.

3. Music: It also helps to listen to relaxing music. I prefer listening to instrumentals while studying. There is nothing more annoying than revising your notes the night before an exam and reading sentences like “McLuhan said Baby, baby, baby oohh Like baby, baby, baby noo”  and then you have to go back to your original book and waste time in trying to find what McLuhan really said. I have found nature instrumentals like waterfalls and birds quite effective, and they’re easy to find online.

4. Short breaks: Having short regular breaks is very useful, especially if like me you have a very short attention span. Taking short TIMED breaks, does wonders, even just going on Facebook or playing a game. I insist on timing them however, otherwise it’s very likely that I “over-rest”.

5. Going out: My motto is “all work and no play makes you a dull student”. Try to go out and have fun at least once a week, I tend to choose Friday or Saturday, just to be able to sleep in the next day.

6. Set an alarm: Waking up at 12 and realizing that I have just wasted a half a day heightens my stress levels, especially as I am a morning person. Setting an alarm helps reduce this.

7. Avoid starting new books and novels: during this time buying new books is a don’t. I always end up being torn between wanting to read on and feeling guilty about doing so.

8. Long warm baths: help me relax even during the worst of moods.

9. Find a stress releasing activity: walking, a running, dancing, sports, really help. With me it’s theatre, just leaving everything behind for an hour or two is my form of escapism.

10. Tired = close the book: If you’re so tired that you can’t focus, take it as an omen to close the book. At this time you generally won’t get much done anyways so might as well rest.

So Good Luck!

BY CARLY-MARI CARUANA

Basic Reporting