Lizzie Akass
Whether you’re getting exam results or essay results back, a stress-filled state of dread and anticipation leading up to getting back your marks seems as unpleasant as it does inevitable. However, there are ways of dealing with this stress, and trying to keep yourself calm, so results day really doesn’t have to be so nerve-wracking.
- Get a good night’s sleep the night before
When you’ve got academic results coming out the next day, falling asleep can be a very hard thing to manage if you’re stressed out – but staying up only makes it worse. If you stay up all night worrying, you’re going to be overly tired, and maybe a little more emotional the next day, so you’ll be making yourself more nervous than need be. If you get to bed early and fall sleep before you get caught up in your thoughts, you’ll wake up refreshed, and everything will seem much easier. If you’re struggling to sleep because your mind is racing, do a meditation or yoga video from youtube – it sounds weird until you do it, and then you’ll be amazed at how relaxed you are.
- Make yourself a cup of tea.
Everyone in Britain knows this is the number one way to deal with any situation, ever. Other good ways of relieving stress can include: having a mini dance party to yourself in your room, doing something fitness-related (gets the endorphins going), or watching something funny – particularly stand-up comedy as the jokes are regular and continuous. The more you smile, the more endorphins you release, and the less stressed you’ll feel.
- Know that you’re probably worried about nothing
You know that feeling when you remember leaving an exam thinking you’ve done terribly, and then actually get good results? That’s probably going to happen today. You’re only human, you want to do your best, but you probably felt that way before your exam so prepared properly for it, meaning that you’re in with a good chance of being satisfied with your marks, and if absolute worse comes to worst, retakes are not the end of the world!
- Push the media out of your head!
With today’s economic market, and us being bombarded with stories every day about students and graduates struggling to find jobs, even with good grades, it’s understandable to worry about not doing well. But, remember that the media want shocking stories because they sell. No matter what grades you get, you will find employment in your field if you do your research and gain enough of the right skills from work experience or internships. Even if you don’t walk away with high marks, you can still take the necessary steps to make yourself employable in every other way possible, so you’ll be OK.
- Accept that worrying won’t change anything
This one is probably the hardest to do, but it’s also the most important. The fact is, your exams have already been taken, and your essays have already been handed in. There’s literally nothing you can do at this point to change the marks that you’re going to be given, so stressing yourself out over them is pointless. Just know that you did the best you could at the time, regardless of any outside circumstances. If it comes to it, there are so many different ways of making up for lost marks to employers. But, try to keep your chin up, because you’re probably going to be absolutely fine.
