Feeling stressed about exams? Read on for tips from our RLAs

With the exam season coming up, we understand some of you may be feeling apprehensive. Whilst it is important to revise, you also need to ensure you are getting a break. We caught up with the RLAs at Glen Eyre to ask what their top tips for revising and de-stressing before an exam are.

If you live in Halls, remember that our Residence Life Events take place throughout the exam season. You can find them on this website under "events" or by going on the MySouthampton App.

Lauren

During the exam period, there are a number of things that I try to do to destress while studying. One of them is taking regular breaks and rewarding myself with food, which helps me stay motivated. I also try to get myself out of my room and study on campus, such as in the Hartley Library or in the Centenary Building. I find that studying away from my room helps with motivation and stops me from procrastinating!

To take a break from studying, I exercise at the Jubilee Gym, hang out with friends, and take part in societies. I find that doing these activities helps me unwind and prevent stress during the exam season. My final tips are to get enough sleep, and don’t leave your work to the last minute!

Eloise

During the exam season, you’ll often find me revising at the library or even the centenary building. For me I can’t focus at home- I procrastinate! So, by forcing myself out of the house to where other people are working, I feel motivated. I find that working for 20-30 minutes then having a 10-minute break helps to prevent a very fast burn out.

I also like to set myself small, achievable goals for each block of my revision, after which I tend to reward myself with a small treat whether that be food or another activity I enjoy.

To destress, I love spending time with my friends and family, it helps me to unwind. However, I find that spending time alone reading also helps me to keep calm. I think trying different methods of revision and destressing is key to helping everyone do well as we’re all different.

Eden

My favourite ways to destress during the exam period are:

1. Reward yourself for small achievements: personally, I love to treat myself to a sweet treat after finishing an assignment or exam

2. Explore new study spaces on campus

3. Take regular breaks and go on walks with my friends

4. Staying engaged with societies and clubs

5. Staying in touch with family and friends from home

My advice for destressing:

1. Make time for other activities outside of studying: For me this is usually going to a yoga class or hanging out with my friends

2. Stick to daylight hours when studying: Once it hits 6pm, my laptop is shut, and I finish working. Having this boundary allows me to enjoy the evening and not get too consumed by my studies

Tom

In the lead-up to exam season, I take several actions to set myself up for success on the day of the exam. To prevent everything from building up and causing stress, I start creating flashcards on Quizlet when the semester starts. Completing flashcards on a lecture-by-lecture basis means that I’m  prepared for the exam period, and I don’t have to worry about creating last minute revision materials.

My top tip when it comes to studying is to not leave it all to the last minute. I tend to organise what specific topics I study each week, as through cohesive planning, no gaps in my knowledge are unchecked. Unlike many, I tend to keep on top of flashcards and revision from the comfort of my own bedroom! For me, library work tends to be for assignments that need doing.

To destress during exam season, I often treat myself to a lot of chocolate and end up tucking up in bed to watch a Netflix show. Additionally, spending time with friends and going to the pub helps take my mind off the workload.

However, it’s important to note that one frame doesn’t fit all, you should do whatever activity you usually enjoy or even try something new!

Please remember that if exams have got you feeling overwhelmed, you can contact The Student Hub. They are available 24/7 and can be reached on studenthub@soton.ac.uk, or by calling 02380 599 599.