How To Manage Stress Better On Your Own (Advice From A Senior)
Examinations play a salient role in our schooling years, and its no surprise that feelings of anxiety and stress often accompany them. Managing these emotions can be difficult, especially when youre doing it on your own.
While Im by no means an expert, these methods helped me put things into perspective and stay (mostly) composed when studying for my A-Levels and later, when reflecting on how I performed. Without further ado, here are some tips that helped alleviate my stress through my O and A-Levels!
1. Understand the Dichotomy of Control
> Some things are within our power, while others are not. Within our power are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing; not within our power are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not of our own doing. > Epictetus, ancient Greek philosopher The dichotomy of control stems from the practice of Stoicism, which teaches that some things are within our control and some are not. The Stoics believed that everything in the universe operates through a web of cause and effect, forming a rational structure they called logos. To manage stress effectively, its crucial to understand what you can and cannot control.
- You cant always control external events, but you can control your response to them. - The outcome of a situation often depends on how you choose to act or think about it. - Recognising this distinction helps you focus on whats within your influence and accept the rest for what it is. Things happen sometimes for better, sometimes for worse but your reaction is what truly matters. By focusing on whats within your circle of control, you can find peace knowing youve done your best, and thats all anyone can ask of you.
2. Reflect on Your Past Achievements
When stress hits, its easy to belittle yourself and forget your past accomplishments. We often get caught up in chasing the next goal, overlooking how far weve already come which can lead to a constant sense of inadequacy. Ive felt this way too, especially when comparing myself to others successes. Over time, I learned that its important to be proud of what weve achieved, rather than fixate on what we havent. > Its normal to feel like a small fish in a big pond, but that doesnt mean your growth isnt meaningful. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed: - Take a few moments to reflect on your progress. - Remind yourself of past challenges youve overcome. - Have faith that youll make it through this one too. After all, its a bad day, not a bad life. ??
3. Acknowledge Your Emotions
If youre feeling overwhelmed by heavy workloads or endless revision, remember your feelings of stress, inadequacy, or frustration are completely normal. When I was in JC, I often ignored these emotions and pushed through my work. But in the long run, that only led to burnout and loss of motivation before A-Levels. Instead of suppressing your emotions, take a step back and acknowledge them.
- Go for a walk in the park or a short stroll around the mall. - Have a meal with family or friends. - Do something light and enjoyable to clear your head. More often than not, youll realise that things arent as bad as they seem once youve taken a breather.
Conclusion
I hope these tips help you in some way! Its undeniable that with so much going on, its easy to feel defeated or inadequate. But that doesnt erase your past achievements or the progress youve made.
Be proud of how much youve grown as a person and remember, as long as youre doing your best, thats truly all you can ask of yourself. ??