Why are students under a lot of stress before examinations

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Students are under a lot of stress before examinations. This stress is faced by teachers and parents as well. But the question is why do people get stressed? Adolescents are faced with the demands of the development of their developmental tasks. Then there are pulls of a complex society also. Then need to acquire skills of adjustment. The anxiety of the students is regarding living up to the expectations of their peers and parents. Anxiety which is up to an optimal level motivates, while over-anxiety is disabling.

Anxiety is contagious also and passes on to others. A stressed adolescent perceives everything as an emergency. Stress is due to identity crisis and the need to make career-oriented decisions. Inability to communicate with parents also plays a major role in increasing stress levels.

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Good memory depends on a good brain

Good memory depends on a good brain. The brain needs a good supply of oxygen, glucose, calcium, and iron. So, one should sit in a well-ventilated place when studying. A rich diet consisting of milk, cheese, walnuts, and green leafy vegetables should be taken. ‘Breakfast is the main food’, so one should not miss that. A fiber-rich diet of fruit and vegetables reduces stress. 

Good concentration is important to improve memory. One should be able to recall what one has learned. Mastery of the subject content only is not important, but the process of answering is also equally important.

A mental block is formed b anxiety and fear, as they hamper recalling. Watching television can also affect academic performance. It eats into the reading time. Time should be managed between ‘filled’ and ‘unfilled time’. Time spent sleeping, bathing, eating, dressing, etc is our filled time. A student has 10 hours of unfilled time at his disposal. He should know how best he is to utilize this. Nearly eight hours of sleeping are required for optimal brain functioning. One should always stay positive. It helps to lessen stress.

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Time  management reduce stress

Time management is important to counter stress. A ‘TO DO’ task list should be prepared. However, these tasks are not static and change over a while. Tasks should be divided into three categories-important, less important, and routine. A realistic amount of time should be given for each task. One should keep a diary to monitor tasks to be done.

Exercise, Traveling, Hobbies reduce stress

Exercise helps in improving sleep and reduces anxiety also. Brisk walking, swimming, jogging, and aerobics keep the heart-healthy. We should cover short distances on foot or by bicycle. 

Traveling is very stressful. But certain simple exercises can be done while traveling on a bus.

Hobbies are also a good stress buster. They are as refreshing as sleep. One can forget the tensions and failures of life being engaged in them. They are healthy mood enhancers.

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Stay Calm and at Peace

One should stay calm and at peace, also think positively even in the worst of situations. Every year a large number of students take the extreme step of committing suicide. They fail to cope up with the pressure of performance. Failing in the exam is certainly no the end of the world. Many geniuses like Ramanujan and Einstein failed in their exams. One should talk about the problems with others.