Archives November 2022

Steps To Keep Stress At Bay During Exam Season

The term examination is the most hated by almost every student. We not only fear taking an exam but the mere thought of it gives us anxiety. Exam is the reality of a student’s life, it is the assessment process which determines your academic performance of the year. It is natural for a student to feel pressured, under-confident, and unprepared. We all want to score higher marks, and get validation from our teachers and fellow students. The thought of failing them is the greatest cause of stress. 

Be it  a preschooler, a 12th standard student or someone taking an entrance exam – stress is the common feeling among all.  While a certain amount of stress may be beneficial, too much exam stress can cause individuals to perform poorly. The pressure may result in feelings of anxiety or nervousness, and this exam stress can interfere with the individual’s daily life. Therefore, it is very important to identify its various causes and take care of oneself at such a crucial time.

Here are some major causes which lead to exam stress:

  • Financial disparity
  • Lack of preparation
  • Poor studying habits
  • Parental Expectations
  • Disinterest in the subject

Steps to overcome exam-stress: 

Sometimes dealing with stress can be difficult.  Inculcating a few good habits can calm you down, easing the entire process. To eliminate last moment exam stress, it is important that a student follows a systematic, planned and organised approach from the beginning of the session. It includes attending all classes, taking notes and regular revision of the lessons taught in school. De-stressing methods are second in step, which might be adopted if the student feels jittery during the exam season. 

  1. Determine Your Goal – To achieve quantitative results, identifying your goal and adhering to  it is a MUST. If you aim to score a 90%, your preparation must be of that quality. Write down your scope for the next 1 month and analyse your progress regularly. Make sure your routine is flexible and has enough time for leisure and breaks. In such cases, a gradual increase in study hours proves effective and consistent. 
  2. Identify Your Weaknesses – Not all students excel in all subjects, we all have our likes and dislikes, subjects in which we need a little extra effort. Revising and studying only the subject we find interesting could negatively affect our end-term results. For instance, you might need only an hour to prepare for your Maths exam but require three times more time for Science. It is very important to focus on all subjects. Devote extra time on subjects in which you are not as strong. Scoring well in a few subjects and scoring poorly in the rest can hamper your overall performance. 
  3. Take A Break – When we study for our exams, we tend to be too harsh on ourselves. We put ourselves in unreasonable situations by expecting unreal results. It is not mandatory to study every hour of the day. The goal is to prepare ourselves to take the exam and not to count the number of hours we spent studying. You might be studying the entire day and still might not be able to retain even a single answer. Our mind and body needs rest after exertion. So work hard but with regular breaks so that your body and mind can relax and you can rejuvenate your energy and work hard with more zeal.
  4. Reduce Screen Time – The moment you open your books – you find reasons to use your phone, either to check your syllabus or Google a piece of information. We take longer breaks than the study time only because we get so caught up in our gadgets. Researches have shown that overusing mobile phones not only causes distraction but also affects our mental health. Pro tip – Keep your phone on silent mode or away from you during your studying hours. 
  5. Physical Exercise & Meditation Practising yoga and breathing techniques will help you to stay calm and focused. It will also increase your concentration during exams. Channel your fear, doubts and anxiety through a positive medium by means of regular exercise to boost confidence and reduce stress. Cycling, walking, jogging, swimming, and playing any sport can help overcome stress.

Feeling stressed or nervous during exam seasons is pretty normal but it is very important to not let these feelings overpower your true potential. Therefore, it is important to include certain disciplinary measures in your day-to-day lives to reduce stress and anxiety. 

How To Help Your Growing Child Cope With Stress And Worries?

What is Stress?

Stress is synonymous with the word tension. Anything that gives you tension causes you stress, be it emotional, psychological or physical strain. Stress is not restricted to any particular age group, however, it is true that it is more common among adults but that certainly doesn’t mean that a young child cannot be under stress, and to our disadvantage children might not even realise themselves that they are stressed or what is stressing them out. Therefore, it is our responsibility as parents, to keep an all round vigilance on them and remain watchful towards the slightest change in their behaviour. 

Common Behavioural Traits Of Children Under Stress

  • Clinginess 
  • Tiredness
  • Restlessness
  • Mood swings
  • Hyperactivity
  • Increased aggression
  • Lack of concentration
  • New or recurring fears

How Can We Help Our Children?

To adults, childhood seems like the most carefree time of life, which is true but things like school, social life, approaching exams create a certain pressure that can be too overwhelming for kids at times. It is impossible to shield them from stress but helping them in difficult times would solve all their problems.

A child’s response to stress can be both healthy and unhealthy. Although they may not initiate a conversation about what’s bothering them, they do want their parents to reach out and offer support.

Here are a few tips: 

Notice when something’s off – Communicate with your child when you notice changes in their behaviour, express what you think it could be but be very mindful of your words and tone. For instance, instead of saying “Why are you still stuck on it?” try saying, “Why is it bothering you so much?” Avoid making them feel bad about it, be sympathetic and try to understand them. 

Listen to help – When you ask your child to share their troubles, it is vital that you listen to them with an open mind. Listen to understand, not reply. Be attentive, empathetic, caring and most importantly be patient. Don’t cut them off midway and start giving your solutions. The goal is to let them know that they are being heard. Encourage them to share more by asking important questions such as, “And then what happened?” or “How did you react to it?” Let your child know that what they’re feeling is okay. 

Label their feelings – Many kids do not understand what they are feeling or find it difficult to identify their feelings. If you find your child frustrated or annoyed, label their emotions to help them develop emotional awareness. The ability to do so reduces kids’ chances of reaching the behavioural boiling point where emotions are expressed through behaviours rather than verbal communication.

Find ways to distract them – If there is a particular problem that is causing them stress and anxiety, discuss things that could help them de-stress. Play the role of a silent partner and let your child think of ways that could help them. Ask them why and how they think a certain solution would be beneficial to them. Encourage them while keeping a close watch. 

Inform school authorities – If there is something at school that is troubling them, speak to your ward’s class teacher in order to make sure that your child is taken care of. Children spend most of their daily hours in schools, it is important that the school is made aware of their wellbeing. This not only eases your tension but also ensures that extra attention and care is given to the kid. 

Last but not the least, just be there. Kids do not always open up about their problems and that is alright. Your support and presence is sometimes all that matters. Keeping them company, spending time together might lift their spirits. The sight of your child unhappy or stressed hurts, but resist the urge to fix everything. Instead, try to help your child grow into a good problem solver – a kid who can face life’s ups and downs, express emotions, and bounce back after a setback.

Having said that, G.D. Goenka takes pride in their trained and talented faculty who have been building a healthy environment. We are also taking the necessary steps to reduce overstress, be it in forms of exams or carrying heavy textbooks or extra co-curricular activities which otherwise acts as a motivation booster.