I have test anxiety. It’s not the time limit or the material, but it’s the test itself that scares me. The fact that I could fail or that a bad grade could bring down my overall grade - all of it - stresses me out, and I sometimes end up doing poorly because of this.
As I learn to cope with my anxiety and get better at test-taking (and just handling stress in general), I’m picking up some important points that could help y’all as well.
To-Do Lists Are Your Besties
The overwhelming emotions tumble through me as I stress out about everything I need to do. And because of this, to-do lists are my best friends. Specifically, the part where I pour everything in my brain from random thoughts to tasks to doodles to important dates or meetings into a list form. It’s like ranting at a paper as to all the things I need to do.
Then, I organize all my tasks accordingly and get to it. I put on some motivational music (usually my beats playlist), and check off each thing as I go.
Don’t Procrastinate
This goes without saying but don’t put important things off until the last minute. You may think that you work better under short periods of time, but this is damaging to your mental health, sometimes to your sleep schedule, and can make you build unwanted future habits. At the last minute, you’re putting yourself under too much stress, getting less sleep, and letting yourself think that you work better in these stressful environments, unconsciously building a habit.
Sometimes, it’s ok because we just may not have the time. But every time? Most of the time? Nope, plan ahead. (And do that with the help of #1!).
Say “Ew” To The Negativity!
“I bombed the last test, and I’ve lost all confidence in my math abilities.”
Wrong. Let me be transparent here - I said the above thing after doing not so well on my first math test. But here I go, I know I need to hear this too: “You’re doing fine. You’re going to do great. You studied and you’re going to get that which you put into it. Believe. And breathe.”
Part of the lacking confidence in ourselves comes from these small things that we say. Truth is, we do and say this stuff unconsciously so rarely do we realize that what we’re talking about is going to make us believe it. As mentioned before, the tests and quizzes themselves scare me, so even just thinking about them results in my hands trembling and heart racing. So because of this, I do say these things. Even though I know I shouldn’t.
Again, what happened in the past doesn’t tell you what’s going to happen now. What happened then could’ve just being pure unluckiness, silly mistakes, or something else entirely. What happened then should only affect you in one way - that you learn from the mistakes. And take it one important thing at a time. One test at a time. One quiz at a time. One project at a time. And as I say you, I’m reminding myself of this as well because I know it’s easier said than done.
Basically, just keep the good vibes and affirmative thoughts singing in your head. Whenever, wherever, and no matter what anyone else says.
Alright, beautiful people, that’s all for today. I hope you took something useful away from this article and that you ace whatever you’ve got going on this week. You got this, I believe in you, and I’m so proud of where you are right now. You’re golden.
Thanks for reading!