Believe in yourself
It’s important to have self-belief and to be kind to yourself when you are feeling the pressure and stresses of your studies.
During this time, you may be hard on yourself because you want to do well and make you and your family and friends proud.
Positive self-talk and affirmations are a great way to boost your confidence and lead you to a positive mindset by telling yourself things like “I’m going to do my best!” and “I know I’m going to do really well in this exam!”.
Reflecting on all the amazing things you have achieved often helps; by writing a list so you remember these achievements, and then you can look back on them when you need a pick-me-up and a boost in confidence before your exam.
Seek support
When feeling this way, it’s important to talk to someone you feel comfortable with about how you are feeling. This could be a trusted friend, family member, or counsellor from your study institution.
There are also free services from mental health organisations like headspace, which offer work and study support, or helplines like Beyond Blue, which can provide free, confidential support.
Maintain self-care
During the busy exam and assignment season, we often forget about looking after ourselves. Self-care is crucial for our health and well-being, especially during times of stress and when feeling the pressure.
Make sure you stay hydrated, eat lots of nutritious and healthy food to fuel your brain, and take regular study breaks. Going for a walk outside and regularly exercising in the fresh air is great for relaxing and resetting your mind from studies. Prioritising sleep is also essential as it will improve how your brain functions in many ways. The recommended amount of sleep for adults is 7-9 hours, according to the SleepHealth Foundation, with this amount of sleep you will notice a big difference your overall mood and health.
Just remember to give it your best shot!
For further support
Lifeline
13 11 14
lifeline.org.au
Headspace
1800 650 890
headspace.org.au
Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636
beyondblue.org.au
ReachOut
reachout.com
UnitingSA
unitingsa.com.au