Tanya Sharma
Feeling little stressed, anxious, apprehensive or fearful? Are you one of those who can’t stop over-thinking about the exam? Dear! I know that you are preparing for JEE exams. So, feeling little nervous is expected and is alright .You know what! Everyone passes through this phase in life, even we did. So, based on my personal experiences, I will like to share some practical tips with you to help you face the coming attempts with the right attitude .Attitude is everything which will determine your success in exam at this stage.
I know many people will be telling you -“Be positive …Don’t worry…Come on! Cheer up …” But, merely speaking this is not going to help. Very few people will actually tell you how to do that .So, let me enumerate certain psychology-backed points –
ACCEPT YOUR EMOTIONS: One of the mistakes that we often commit is that we try to fight against our thoughts or run away from our emotions (such as fear or anxiety). Rather, what I would suggest is that accept these emotions first. As Buddha also said that these emotions are a part of human soul and we must accept them. But, it does not mean that you attach belief to them. You can tell yourself very gently – “Dear self (your name)! I know you are little worried and that is perfectly fine.”
POSITIVE SELF TALK OR AFFIRMATIONS: Monitoring your self-talk is really important .If you are engaging in negative self talk, that can prove detrimental to your success. I hope you are familiar with the law of attraction. So, using affirmations and visualization like – “I am doing great in my exam” helps a lot.
MIRROR EXERCISE: This brings me to a very interesting exercise that you can do. Stand in front of the mirror and tell yourself statements like -“You are unique, talented, beautiful and divine .Everything best is already happening in your life”. This will definitely boost your morale.
CREATIVE VISUALISATION : Dear friend ! your mind is storehouse of power or energy . If you divert all those energies in proper direction , you can do wonders with the mind power . So , before going to sleep or waking up early morning , visualize you are doing well in your exam , you are already in the best college of the country …..and so on . This will fill you with tremendous positive energy .
DIARY WRITING: This can also help you vent out your feelings .Record your emotions on a piece of paper. Empty your mind and you will definitely feel relieved.
TALKING TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS: Talking to your parents, spending time with your family is one of the ways to de-stress yourself. They are the ones who are your ultimate well-wishers .So, make sure you spend some quality time with them.
SOME GENERAL TIPS: Apart from the above mentioned steps, let me make you recall some very obvious things that we end up ignoring.
* Take breaks in between to refresh yourself.
* make sure you follow a healthy sleep cycle. Set it according to the timing of examination.
* Take care of your diet and have plenty of water.
* Start your day with light physical exercise and prayer / meditation.
ON THE EXAM-DAY: Make sure you take proper sleep before the exam, so that you are fresh and alert during the exam. I know it is easier said than done :.Avoid last minute studies .Begin your day with a prayer / meditation. That will really help .Make sure you carry the admit card and other necessary documents and stationary with you .Reach the examination centre well before time. Avoid engaging in conversations with your friends before the exam. During the exam, maintain your calm. Take your time to read the question well. Target easy questions first, do not spend too much time on a single question .Dear friend! You might feel you know all these things already. But, one needs to reinforce them again.
MY MESSAGE: And now something special for you from the core of my heart: “Champ! The final day has come. You know what! Today is going to be a great day of your life. So, replace your fears with excitement. Just go and give the best shot. And mind you, this is not the last chance. You have got three more attempts .You have given your best, right? So, now leave everything to him. He knows what is best for you. If you perform well, great! If not , something better is definitely in store for you .You are not going to lose either way .So… be happy , laugh, go and fly high as the world is full of opportunities and you just need to have an eye to see that .”
And yes! In the end, I will like you to recall PM Modi’s definition of an examination (pareeksha) as a “Mahotsav”, where you are going to test what you have learnt. So, celebrate it and make it a memory. Remember the famous quote of Bible – “I can do all things through Christ (God) which strengthens me. If God be for us, who can be against us …”
So, believe in Him. He is with you and knows what is best for you
(The writer is a post-graduate in political science)
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