Sharing your problems is the first vital step

‘I failed in some subjects in examination, but my friend passed in all. Now he is an engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner of Microsoft’ - Bill Gates

Examination - a single word but evokes a labyrinth of anxieties, dilemmas, stresses, confusions, desperation, depression and a lot of other psychosomatic disorders. All these feelings arise from examination fear which students commonly suffer from across the world.

The fear of examination, if not attenuated and tamed in time, aggravates to stress, a dangerous condition. It adversely affects the psychological condition of examinees. The academic performance and career prospects also land in trouble. We need to learn an array of the following techniques to keep stresses under control and pacify examination pressure -

1. Ask yourself why you are stressed and afraid of
Though it may seem bizarre that sometimes we do not even know what and why we fear from. And this dilemma aggravates the problem. Only diagnosing the problems in time can help us to come out from the difficult condition. So you must first identify the reasons of your worries. This is the first step in the direction of uprooting and overcoming the stresses.

For some students, lack of completion of syllabi of examination poses the great problem while for others lack retention power of lessons learnt seems to be their Achilles’ heel. Some students do suffer from the problem of understanding the subjects and so feel very helpless and discouraged to face what we may call the ordeal of examination. Problems may be galore, but they need to be fixed before trying to solve them. Groping in the dark for solution without knowing the nature of the problem would lead you nowhere.

So, make an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. Once you know your problems, you must do your best to solve them with the help from the professionals and experts. The faster you overcome your problems the sooner will you be able to drive the fears out to finally become confident, cool, calm and courageous.

2. You must push hard for your dreams
No one can deny that hard labour has no substitute for accomplishing a task in this world. Achieving much-expected results in examination is not at all different from this precept. With hard labour students can amazingly harness their inherent potential to fulfill their dreams

Going through the syllabi of subjects seriously and thoroughly is prerequisite for good results. This will enthuse you with confidence and courage and ultimately help you calming pulls and pressures of examination.

3. Speak to and seek the parents’ guidance
In case of examination stress, it is always inevitable to speak about it to your parents. If you fear or feel shy from speaking your parents better would it be if you talk about your problem to whom you confide in and trust most. Students may also speak to their best friends and teachers in this critical condition. Sharing your problems openly with them will help you allay the fears and phobia of examination.

4. You must have strictly planned and fully occupied day
Chalking out plan for the examination preparation is a sine qua non of what you want to achieve in your life. But majority of students fail to plan and that is why they fail to assess the tasks to be accomplished until the examinations commence.

Delay in planning is not good because in this case students are left with relatively less time to finish the immense tasks. This virtually insurmountable condition may put you in jeopardy. So, you need to chalk out a comprehensive time plan only at the outset of the session for all subjects. And at the most, religiously sticking to the planned study hours is also of prime importance.

5. Regular meditation would help you stay cool and calm
The practice of regular meditation quietens one’s mind. This brings about personal metamorphoses in the form of sharper mind, enhanced focus and strengthened concentration which ultimately help the students grasp the subject matter fast and stay calm and cool. So, you must practice meditation regularly at least for ten to fifteen minutes as per the schedule you may feel convenient.

6. Stop cramming lessons
Rote learning does not help much in the long run because its retention period is very poor because what we learn by rote does not stay in mind for longer period. Nor such learnt lessons are retrieved easily at the time students need most. This situation causes tension. Always try to understand the processes and clearly know the way a certain theory function. Give time to understand the various concepts of the subjects.

7. Set realistic goals
Dreaming to achieve bigger things is human nature which we all love and long. But dreaming must be based upon what we call the resources availability and inherent strength. So you must honestly make real assessment of your capabilities.

Know your own strengths and weaknesses very honestly. Goal set in keeping your limitations in mind would help you lead a life full of mental serenity.

8. Do never panic
People usually panic when problems arise, there is nothing weird about it. Because whole world seems to have been shattered in the crises. Life does not seem to be enjoying. But panicking does not pay anything. Nor does it heal or provide relief to the bruised body or disturbed mind. Rather it aggravates the situation. At this crossroads, you need to be very rational. Do not lose heart. Nor patience and courage. Try to always stay stoic and firm. Keep on pushing hard for what you want to realise in your life. This would help you become courageous to brave the challenges of life with ease.

9. Always believe nothing bad will take place
Unlike success, failure makes a man cynic and pessimist. Due to this he starts doubting even himself and his own potential. This is a very serious problem which eats into the inherent capability of a student. Believing in your strength helps you stay motivated and ambitious. With positive bent of mind and unshakeable faith in your capability, you can accomplish any task however difficult it may be. This is bound to bring about much-cherished success to you and amazingly keep stresses at bay.

The psychoanalysts say that examination stresses are just the state of mind. With low self-esteem and shattered self-confidence, the examination stress goes on mounting with the speed never seen before. So, mould the mind and bring about changes in the life style and philosophies of life - you would never be under stresses and worries would never haunt you.

- Shreeprakash Sharma