Friday, December 17, 2021

How to Reduce Stress and Increase Productivity During Exam Season

We have all been in situations where we have more than five assignments due in one day. Due to the pressure to submit the assignments on time, we get distracted and start panicking because of the ticking clock. There are situations when we have more than ten chapters to cover before our final exam or proctored exam and it is very common to lose track of time and procrastinate because of the building pressure. If you are someone who can relate to the above situation don’t forget to read this article before your next exam or final assignment due because I will be telling you some tips to reduce stress and increase productivity and ace your upcoming assignments or exam.   

Tips to Reduce Stress: 

        1. Sleep  

Sleep should be given a high priority because it enhances your cognitive and physical performance. Experts advise sleeping seven to eight hours every day, less sleep can result in an increase in weight, loss of productivity and concentration. To improve the quality of your sleep, you can try these small changes in your daily routine:   

  • Turn off the screen one hour before sleeping   
  • It will be best to keep your phone silent or in sleep mode   
  • Keep your room at a comfortable but cool temperature  
  • Try to go to bed and sleep at the same time every day to set up a routine    

        2. Meditation   

Mediation is a great way to relax your mind and help you keep cool even in difficult situations. According to Columbia University Medical Center claims meditation can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression, increase focus and learning concentration, build a stronger immune system and improve your sleep. There are a lot of YouTube channels like Yoga with Adriene where you can learn the art of meditation at the convenience of your home with an instructor, there are also organizations like Isha Kriya by Sadhguru to help an individual create life according to own wish and vision, Daily practices of Isha Kriya help in health, peace and wellbeing.   

  

Tips to Increase Productivity: 

        1. Pomodoro technique  

I have been using the Pomodoro technique to manage my time while studying, with the help of the Pomodoro timer you can break your workday into 25 minutes separated by 5 minutes which can help you work with time rather than against it and helps you beat procrastination and avoid multitasking. Here is the link to the Pomodoro timer if you are ready to beat procrastination and increase productivity.   

        2. 80/20 rule

Another personal favourite is that 80% of output comes from 20% of input. This rule is a great way to prioritize tasks to maximize efficiency and yield maximum results. In the exams and assignments, a clear breakdown is provided about the percentage of different concepts, for example in an exam sometimes you are stuck on 1 marker, so it is always better to focus on the questions that weigh more and leave them for later, this will help you gain confidence during an exam and a chance of scoring higher. The 80/20 rule can also be used in financial planning and business decisions.  

        3. Limit distractions  

It is easy to get distracted with constant text messages from your friends, WhatsApp groups, new videos from your favourite YouTuber or a new OTT release. Here are some things to do to avoid distractions: 

  • Keep the phone on do not disturb mode   
  • Find the right spot to study  
  • Use noise-cancelling headphones  
  • Clean your desk   
  • Caffeine also helps in increasing focus   

 

These tips to increase productivity and reduce stress will help you in preparing better for your exams and remember due to the pandemic you might get a little worried about your health while taking an exam, so it is important to choose a safe and secure testing centre such as ATS.  



Written by Nav Sharma

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