Students at Aliso Niguel are preparing for the upcoming Advanced Placement (AP) testing, along with finals week which takes place at the end of the month.
With these upcoming tests, students experience a lot of pressure to perform well which can be very overwhelming.
It is important that students are provided with coping mechanisms to mitigate the stress they feel to help them excel on their tests and maintain a healthy lifestyle. First of all, students should consider creating a study plan to effectively manage their time when studying. This can be a very effective way to help students prevent an immense amount of stress prior to finals by having a plan.
In terms of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, students must understand that it is essential to get enough sleep and have balanced nutrition. Research suggests that students must get a recommended eight to ten hours of sleep before an exam. Sleep deprivation can cause students to underperform as well as experience more stress.
Additionally, a well-balanced diet can help students reduce stress. Eating healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy and protein, can enhance a students performance and allow your brain to function properly. Avoiding sugar intake is optimal because sugar can heighten stress levels. Although it may be hard to steer clear from unhealthy eating habits, it is important to recognize it truly affects performance.
Engaging in physical activity is another great tool to help combat stress. By doing exercise you are releasing endorphins into your body. This can create a better mood and ultimately reduce stress levels. Exercise like going to the gym, doing yoga, going on a run, or even on a walk are all great ways to manage stress.
Studying for long hours is not always the best way to complete effective studying. Taking short breaks every 45 minutes can be the perfect way to keep yourself fully engaged in the material. Studying for too long can actually cause students to have a hard time retaining information and also cause burnout. Breaks are a perfect way to study more efficiently and lower your stress.
Encouraging yourself to set reasonable goals is another great way to keep your stress levels at a low level. By setting realistic expectations for yourself, you are able to let yourself achieve your goals. It is important to realize that perfection is not realistic and is unattainable. While striving to achieve amazing things is certainly great, setting yourself at such high expectations can negatively affect your mental health. Having empathy and caring for yourself means accepting your limitations and working with them in your favor.
Lastly, take into consideration that most of these tests are only a small part of your life and do not determine your self worth.
Maintaining balance and composure during stressful situations is the best way to achieve academic success. Implementing the following coping strategies will help students to navigate through the challenges they face during the testing season while helping them to preserve their mental well-being.
