Overcoming Test Anxiety

With midterms and finals right around the corner, anxiety is creeping in (or feeling like a tidal wave) for many students. In fact, the majority of test takers experience anxiety and when those anxious feelings become heightened, they can get in the way of performing your best. 

Understand Anxiety

We grow up learning the anxiety and nervousness is bad—something to be avoided at all costs. Actually, we should celebrate when we start to feel our heart beat faster as there are several benefits. An increase in our heart rate delivers oxygen to our brain and cells throughout our body to help us perform at our best.

• Anxiety can help you:

• Focus your attention

• Make careful decisions

• Increase your problem solving ability

• Increase your reaction time

Change Your Relationship With Anxiety

Welcome anxiety—it can be your best friend. Work on changing the message you are telling yourself when you start to feel your nerves. Instead of worry or dread, try out these self-talk alternatives:

                “This is how I feel when I perform my best”

                “My body is doing what it is supposed to do”

                “These feelings show I care”

                “My body is preparing for success”

                “I hear you friend, we got this”

Understand Your Success Needs

Sometimes anxiety is telling you that something is important. If you start feeling tension, restlessness, digestive system upset, or have trouble sleeping when you have a test coming up, ask yourself what your body is telling you. What do you need to feel prepared? What you need may differ from your friends or classmates.

Things to consider

1.       Do you have more success studying alone or with others?

2.       How long can you focus at a time before needing a break?

3.       What is driving your procrastination?

4.       What study tools work best for you?

5.       Remember food fuels your brain—find something you can eat even when your stomach feels upset.

6.       How early you need to plan ahead with your studying to feel prepared?

7.       What organization tools work best for you?

8.       You can ask for extra support, get a tutor, or get help from your teacher.

Past Mistakes Are Feedback

Sometimes anxiety is fuelled by the fear of repeating past failures. Making mistakes is a necessary part of the learning process. We fail on the pathway to success. Celebrate your mistakes as a sign that you are learning and pushing yourself to improve. Think about when you learned to ride a bike—I know I had some wipe outs before finding the balance required to navigate the trails. Mistakes are just information and feedback—ask yourself what is working and what changes would help going forward.

 For more information and support with overcoming text anxiety book a free consultation with Tonia.