Tips to study effectively and cope with stress

Each person has a different vulnerability to stress and a different ability to cope with stress. So the extent to which each student can be stressed or anxious is different. In today's world, society puts immense pressure on academic performance.

Decades have passed and we have still failed to notice that academic performance is not the marker of either a successful or a happy life. If anything, this pressure to excel has only become worse. This has made exam time an unavoidable source of stress. It is thus, important to cope with it correctly. This stress, if dealt with and channelled correctly can not only help maintain sanity during exams but also produce outstanding results. Different methods work for different people.

Dr. Prachi Shah, Founder and Consulting Psychiatrist, Meraki Mind Care suggests few tips to study effectively and cope with stress

• Maintain a consistent sleep wake schedule and always get your required amount of sleep. You may think you need to increase your study hours by decreasing your sleep, but not completing the average amount of sleep your body needs is only going to dull your mind and make it difficult to focus and remember while studying.
• Eat healthy, drink lots of water.
• Have a rough plan about how you will target and finish your syllabus. You might not always stick to the plan or you may change it later, but having a plan gives direction.
• Break everything down. Don't keep thinking about everything you have to finish, because that will look vast and you may end up feeling overwhelmed. Instead focus on what has to be finished each day.
• Write. Make lots of notes while reading. It helps to focus and remember better.
• Have small group discussions with friends about topics you have completed. Discussions build confidence, reduce anxiety and take edge off the constant studying.
• Maintain a small excercise regimen (of any type, it could be yoga, dance, gym, swimming or anything you like) everyday at a fixed time. It helps to destress and keeps the mind from getting dull.
• Take short breaks every few hours.
• Don't forget that it's still just an exam. An exam will not define how your life shapes up, even if it feels like that right now.
• If you can't cope with the stress at all, if you feel sad and anxious all the time, lose your sleep and appetite, experience panic attacks, seek professional help.

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