The Top Ten Ways to Reduce Exam Stress

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For permission to reprint, contact the author, Robin L. Silverman, at www.robinsilverman.com.

10)Get a decent night's sleep. Forget last-minute cramming. Keep your mind clear by getting 7-10 hours of sleep before your exam.

9)Drink water. Eliminate pop and coffee, which are dehydrating. If you are even 2% dehydrated, you'll be more tired. Consume half your body weight in ounces of water.

8)Eat light and colorful foods. Sugar will let you down in the middle of your exams. Go for a colorful salad with some protein.

7)Breathe. For one minute every hour, stop studying and simply breathe deeply, drawing the breath from the bottom of your diaphragm to the top of your head and releasing it slowly.

6)Loosen up. Stretch and/or walk before your exam so that your blood flows freely and your aches and pains disappear.

5)Recite; don't read. Reading out loud will help you remember more of what you see. If you can, jot a few notes, too. If you speak and write, you'll remember more than 90% of what you cover.

4)Speak easy. When you take your breaks and/or talk to your friends, trade your "tough study" talk for a more neutral stance: Example: "I'm about 50% finished."

3)Dream it. Give your subconscious a command before you fall asleep. Say, "I will sleep well, and awaken refreshed and ready to take my exams, confident in my knowledge of the subject."

2)Affirm it. As you're getting dressed, say out loud, "I am prepared to do my best on this test."

1)Begin at the end you want. Before you put pencil to paper, whisper, "I intend to do well on this test." Then close your eyes and see the highest grade you now believe is possible at the top of the paper. If you find yourself stuck for an answer, say, "I know I know this." Go on to another question and come back. The other answer then has room to pop into your head.