LAST MINUTE EXAM TIPS

Last Minute Exam Tips 
and 
Relaxation Techniques 
for Exams

Exams are just around the corner. Being prepared reduces stress so take time to set your priorities in the days ahead. Keep friends and family updated about your plans and ask them to cheer you along to the finish line.

Think about what you’ve already covered and review your study schedule. Set 15 minute study goals and take a 10 minute break every 50 minutes or after two hours. Repetition improves memory. Continue being an active learner- eg. Use highlighters, make summaries or mind maps. You might like to revise past papers, practice writing timed essays or study with a friend. Give yourself regular rewards.

If you become distracted while studying, just notice and refocus on the task at hand. Break tasks down into smaller chunks and tackle them one at a time. Remind yourself “I can do this” “I enjoy learning.” Expect to succeed.

Minimise interruptions eg turn your mobile on silent. If you find your self procrastinating, weigh up the pros and cons. Stay motivated by imagining a well earned break or seeing yourself on graduation day. Maintain some balance. A brisk walk will clear your mind. Try not to live on caffeine.

If you like, you can practice slow abdominal breathing whenever you sit down to study. Inhale in a way that allows your stomach to expand. As you exhale, your stomach should move inward. If you practice this for a minute your body and mind will naturally begin to relax. You can use this technique in your exams to improve your concentration or calm yourself. Each day imagine yourself in the exam room, knowing how to answer the questions well.

Make sure you check the date and location of your exams.

On the day of the exam:

• Eat well. Have a good breakfast the morning of your exam
• Wear a watch, check your pens etc and give your self extra time to travel
• Sit apart from the anxious crowd just prior to your exam
• Use self talk to stay focussed. Tell yourself “I’m calm and thinking clearly.”
• In the exam room, scan your entire paper, read questions carefully and allocate your time according to marks. 
• Some anxiety is a cue to cope. If you feel too anxious or blank out for a moment, just take a few slow, deep breaths and remind yourself “Relax. Concentrate. I can easily do this, just one step at a tim
• You can also describe your surroundings for a moment, have a drink of water or chew some gum
• You can take a mental break and then begin again. Don’t give up.
• Dangle your arms by your sides to promote circulation when resting briefly from writing.

GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY  !!!!!!

Laughter

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

 

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HUMOR AND LAUGHTER

Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

LAUGHTER IS STRONG MEDICINE FOR MIND AND BODY

“Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.”

~ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.

 

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.

Laughter Is Good  For  Your  Health

• Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. 
• Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

LAUGHTER AND HUMOR HELP YOU STAY EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY

Laughter makes you feel good. And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss. 

More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in on the fun.

The Link  Between Laughter And Mental Health

• Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.
• Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.
• Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

THE SOCIAL BENEFITS OF HUMOR AND LAUGHTER

Humor and playful communication strengthen our relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection. When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment. 

Laughing With Others Is More Powerful Than Laughing Alone 

Shared laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting. All emotional sharing builds strong and lasting relationship bonds, but sharing laughter and play adds joy, vitality, and resilience. And humor is a powerful and effective way to heal resentments, disagreements, and hurts. Laughter unites people during difficult times. 

Using humor and laughter in relationships allows you to:

• Be more spontaneous. Humor gets you out of your head and away from your troubles.
• Let go of defensiveness. Laughter helps you forget judgments, criticisms, and doubts.
• Release inhibitions. Your fear of holding back and holding on are set aside.
• Express your true feelings. Deeply felt emotions are allowed to rise to the surface.

Laughter And Relationships

Mutual laughter and play are an essential component of strong, healthy relationships. By making a conscious effort to incorporate more humor and play into your daily interactions, you can improve the quality of your love relationships— as well as your connections with co-workers, family members, and friends.

Music Relaxation

 Music and Stress Management

With all the ways music affects your body, you can probably already clearly see how music can be used as an effective relaxation and stress management tool. In addition to the many physical changes that music can bring, music is especially helpful in relaxation and stress management because it can be used in the following ways:

Music and Physical Relaxation

Music can promote relaxation of tense muscles, enabling you to easily release some of the tension you carry from a stressful day (or week).

Music as an Aid in Stress Relief Activities

 Music can help you get ‘into the zone’ when practicing yoga, self hypnosis or guided imagery, can help you feel energized when exercising, help dissolve the stress when you’re soaking in the tub, and be a helpful part of many other stress relief activities. It can take an effective stress reliever and make it even more effective!

Music and a Meditative State

As mentioned before, music can help your brain get into a meditative state, which carries wonderful stress relief benefits with it. For those who find meditation intimidating, music can be an easier alternative.

Music to Promote a Positive Focus

Music, especially upbeat tunes, can take your mind off what stresses you, and help you feel more optimistic and positive. This helps release stress and can even help you keep from getting as stressed over life’s little frustrations in the future.

Music and Affirmations

 The way you see the world and the type of self talk you habitually use can also have a profound effect on your stress level, which is why positive affirmations that create more positive self talk are so helpful. Music that has affirming lyrics can bring the double benefit of music and positive affirmations, helping you to surround yourself with positive energy and more often look on the bright side, letting stressful events more easily roll off your back.

These are some of the reasons that music relaxation is among the easiest and most effective forms of relaxation available, and music is such a great stress management tool.