It’s no secret that the exam and assessment season can be a really stressful time so we’ve put together a brief guide on how to manage your stress and anxiety this term.
It’s no secret that the exam and assessment season can be a really stressful time. That’s why we’ve put together a brief guide on how to manage your stress and anxiety around your exams and coursework this term.
We've also signposted several events and services available on campus that can help to reduce your stress levels and improve your mental and physical wellbeing.
Get Organised!
One of the best ways to manage stress around exams and assessments is to be aware of what you need to do. This may seem like an obvious point, but if you have multiple coursework deadlines or a series of exams, it can be difficult to keep track of everything you've got to do to prepare. Make sure you note down all of your exam dates and deadlines somewhere that you can easily see and refer back to.
Then, break down what you need to do for each assessment. For example, make a list of the topics you need to revise or everything you need to do for an essay, this will make it easier to see everything you need to complete before the deadline.
Once you’ve broken your work down into sizeable chunks, set yourself a daily goal of what to get done. For instance, plan to revise two different topics each day. Remember to be realistic about what you can achieve! Giving yourself too much work to do each day will only make you feel more overwhelmed and disappointed when you cannot complete it all. Instead, set several achievable tasks throughout the day to keep you feeling motivated and productive. If you’re really struggling to keep your momentum going, remember that doing something is better than doing nothing at all.
Looking After Yourself
Doing some form of physical activity is proven to help alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety. It can also help to improve your mental and physical wellbeing over time. Luckily, there are lots of different ways to get active on campus in Term Three.
Gym memberships for Term Three are now available to purchase. It's £66 for a Gold membership until 9 June or £80 for a Term 3+ membership which gives you access to the gym until 15 September. If you don't want to pay for a full membership, you can book pay-as-you-go sessions with an RH SportsPass.
If exercise classes are more your thing, get yourself a Term Three Active membership for £49.50, or simply pay-as-go for £3 per session. RHUL Sport has now released the full Active & Group exercise timetable for Term Three.
If you’re looking for something a little less intensive or inexpensive, try out some of the different walking routes around campus and the local area mapped out by The University. Have a go at completing one a week this term, either on your own or with a friend! Similarly, if you have some extra time and fancy a slightly longer walk, head for a stroll in Virginia Water or Windsor Great Park; they also have some handy walking maps available.
Socialising
It is really important to take regular breaks during exam and assessment season; nobody can work for 12 hours a day, every day. Organise to meet up with your friends for study breaks this term by grabbing a coffee or getting lunch together.
You could also try out one of our Give It A Go events. These are free, relaxing activities designed to help you to meet new people in a fun, relaxed and welcoming environment.
You can check out everything that's happening on the events calendar, but here are just a few of the highlights:
26/04, 10/05 and 24/05 – Mini Massages
04/05 - Meditation and Relaxation Workshop
03/05 and 22/05 – Pets As Therapy
As well as loads of crafternoon sessions so you can take your mind off work and revision for an hour!
Between Monday 24 April and Friday 28 April, the University is running a series of 'Stay social' events on campus. From beginners' yoga to a pub quiz there's a different activity to try out each day.
Change Up Your Study Space!
If revising is starting to feel repetitive, or making you feel less motivated, change up your study space. The University’s Library @ Scheme has information on all the available study spaces across campus this term.
The Packhorse and Tommy’s Kitchen are also great alternative study social spaces - grab a tasty bite to eat while you work.
Ask For Help!
Lastly, if you’re finding the exam season just too overwhelming, you can access wellbeing support on campus in several different ways. There are drop-in wellbeing sessions (both online and in-person) run by the University's Wellbeing teams. If you need to contact Wellbeing, you can find all the information on the Student Intranet.
On Wednesday 3 May (2.30pm-4pm), the University’s counseling team is running a ‘Help With Exam Stress’ workshop, teaching you practical skills in managing exam stress more effectively.
If you have a query regarding exams, assessments, or academic misconduct, you can also speak with one of our advisors at the weekly drop-ins or by contacting them directly at advice@su.rhul.ac.uk.