An Anxious Student’s Guide to Enjoying the Calm Before the Storm
National examinations are just around the block. It’s the one thing most students in Singapore dread to face, and no one denies that they can have a significant impact on various phases in our lives. Inevitable, just like Thanos, this is a hurdle we all have to confront eventually.
Think of the time before your papers as the calm before the storm. Like in an actual storm, being overwhelmed by fear can lead to disaster. This crippling feeling of fear and anxiety stems from a perceived lack of preparation or revision for your final papers.
When you know you’ve done your very best, there’s really not much more you can do but to hope for the best possible outcome. If you’re searching for some form of comfort, just remember the adage: “Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be.”
Let’s get some things straight…
Look, I get it. It’s not easy to get over the fear of underperforming. I know this to be true because I’ve been in your shoes before! I knew what it was like to be consumed by my fear of the national exams. Studying during recess and lunch breaks, while I was on the bus or the train, when I was at home until the wee hours, and even on most of my weekends.
As a result, I didn’t have much of a social life. My preoccupation with studying stripped me of the opportunity to experience and enjoy my life.. It took me a long time to recover from the fatigue I experienced from studying on and on.
Was it worth it? In hindsight, not really.
So, how do I face the storm ahead of me?
Now that the elephant in the room has been addressed, you may ask: “How do I go about tackling my exams?” Well, the first step is to calm yourself down. Convince yourself that you need to take breaks once in a while, and shift your mindset from one of fear to one of acceptance; that you will have to take your papers regardless of what happens and that you’ll do your best to score.
Truth be told, you can get paralysed by your fear of your papers. Instead of revisiting the topics you’re struggling with like you should, you instead start keeping yourself busy with obsessing over the worst possible outcomes: barely missing out on your dream school or course, falling asleep in the middle of a paper, being unable to finish your paper due to an upset stomach, etc.
What these unhealthy scenarios do to you is distract you from your main focus: revising for your papers smartly (think quality > quantity). By calming down and re-centering your focus on your revision, you get more time to prepare for your papers as you save all that time from overthinking what may happen.
As for changing your mindset on taking your papers, you have to remember that your results do not determine the entire course of your life. Yes, sub-optimal results may become a setback, but how big of a setback could they possibly be? A few years? Looking at the big picture, that isn’t much; you still have decades on Earth. That’s a lot of time to turn things around. What’s there to be afraid of apart from a slightly greater challenge?
Need some suggestions on how to take breaks from the constant grind in school? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
The pleasure of company
Taking a break means forgetting about your studies and other commitments for a day or two so that you can recover from the stress and fatigue it brings. What’s a better way to do that than to have a picnic with your friends! There’s just something soothing about chatting and eating with your friends under the shade of a large tree, with the cool breeze caressing your face. Taking a break with your friends all studying for the same exam can be a refreshing and fruitful endeavour — just make sure you don’t start talking about revision!
Sometimes, all that you need to feel motivated is the company of those close to you. When you realise that you’re not in this alone — you’ll be much more motivated to strive your best.
It’s good to be alone (sometimes)
To those who may prefer their own company, you have not been forgotten. Finding yourself and relaxing alone can be the perfect solution when you feel overwhelmed sometimes when studying.
Being alone temporarily sets you free from societal expectations and gives you the opportunity to dwell in and analyse your own thoughts and emotions, allowing you a moment to process what you currently feel. Not only that, having some alone time also allows you to recharge your energy — giving you the boost you need to hunker on with revision.
Be it taking in the outdoors by going out for a hike, cooking or baking for your friends and family, writing a short story or an essay, blasting your favourite music at home, or finding your own escape in watching films; as long as you find something you can immerse yourself in and enjoy, that’s really all that matters.
Stretch those glutes
“Exercise? But exercise is what makes me stressed!”, some of you may say. But research has shown that physical exercise lowers the levels of stress hormones (such as adrenaline and cortisol) in the body, and stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in your body that make you feel good. This chemical cocktail will most definitely raise your spirits, making you feel less stressed about the incoming challenge.
You’ll also notice that after some exercise, you seem to forget all about your concerns throughout the day. Frequent exercise helps one develop the ability to feel calm and focused on whatever task you set out to do, keeping you cool and collected even when under stress. Furthermore, exercising also provides the additional benefits of improved cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems — an essential perk-me-up to avoid falling sick during this important season!
If you find that jogging or cycling might be a tad mundane for you, playing games such as football or basketball can also be considered as a form of physical exercise. Don’t lose yourself too much into exercising, though — don’t use it as a coping mechanism to avoid revision!
Ohmmmmmm…
Breathe in. Breathe out. Let your thoughts wander. You’ll be pleased to find that meditation works wonders in alleviating stress. Most of us probably have an idea of what meditation is, but what is it, exactly?
Meditation is an exercise that functions on the principles of attention and mindfulness. It allows us to improve our focus and calmness and lower levels of stress. More often than not, our heads are in the clouds, dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. Meditation keeps us grounded, pulling us away from present distractions, and allows us to return to the present.
Learning to meditate is simple, yet harder than most of us think. First of all, you have to find somewhere to sit, set a timer for a few minutes, find a position in which your body can be comfortable in for a period of time, and then focus on your breathing. Now comes the hard part, keeping yourself focused. Naturally, your mind will wander. Not to worry, simply just focus on your breathing again. After which, take a moment and observe your environment, then your thoughts and emotions.
What are you waiting for? Try it out for yourself!
In a nutshell
To sum up, it is perfectly normal to be afraid of the national examinations you’ll be facing in a couple of months. After all, it determines the course of the next few years of your life, though not your whole life. You’re inevitably going to face your examinations; you might as well do it on your own terms, prepared and comfortable.
When you find yourself worried, think of some ways to soothe your nerves, to boost your mood, and how to snap out of your paralysis caused by fear. The things you think of don’t even have to be from this article. Then, plan your revision schedule carefully, as this can determine the outcome of your written papers. Be smart about how you plan to review your subjects — don’t keep revising subjects you’re already good at to feel like you’ve revised!
If you ever feel lonely during this difficult time, just remember that a nation’s worth of students will be facing the same ‘storm’; a form of unspoken solidarity, if you will. At least you know, you’re not alone.
