6 Ways to Destress for Fall Exams

Posted on October 11, 2024

If you’re a student, you’re probably starting to gear up for fall exams, even though it might not be the most fun thing to look forward to. And we totally get it—you might be feeling stressed because success is important to you. 

Adjusting from days of partying, swimming, sunbathing, and walking on the beach to days spent studying can be tough. No one can blame you for that, but we can offer a few ways to help you relax and keep stress from holding you back.

Everything will be fine!

Why is regulating your stress important?

Not all stress is bad. However, managing your stress is important for both your mental and physical health, because long-term stress can cause health-related problems like anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and even heart disease.

By handling stress well, you can improve your mood, strengthen your immune system, and make your life better overall. It also helps you think clearly, make better decisions, and keep healthy relationships. Overall, controlling stress is key to living a balanced, healthy, and fulfilling life.

So, keep that in mind next time you let a certain situation or a person stress you out. Remember, you are the only one having control over how you deal with your stress.

Six Ways to Distress for Fall Exams

Feeling stressed before an exam is a very common thing, some might even call it "normal". Namely, some findings show a growing trend of anxiety among young people. In a survey done by ReachOut in August 2023, 88% of the 1,000 students surveyed said they felt stressed about their studies at some point in the past year, and 55% reported feeling high levels of stress in the two weeks before the survey.

Several lifestyle factors can add to exam stress, including not getting enough sleep, poor nutrition, not exercising enough, and not managing commitments well. Some students struggle with a lack of exam strategies or poor study habits. Psychological factors also matter, as feeling out of control and engaging in negative self-talk can lead to poor performance.

If you see yourself as one of these stressed students, don’t worry—you’re not alone! We’re here to help with six tips to help you relax before your exams.

• Magnesium oil and vitamin D

Magnesium is an important mineral that helps with at least 300 different processes in the body, including protein production and muscle and nerve function. In an interview with Healthline.com, Dr. Uma Naidoo, director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, stated that magnesium helps to regulate many key neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation, stressing that a lack of magnesium can be linked to anxiety, ADHD, fatigue, tension, and irritability.

Dr. Naidoo also noted that "vitamin D acts as a neuro-steroid in the brain and helps protect against depression and anxiety disorders.”

Given this information, it’s clear that magnesium and vitamin D together may help reduce stress. Using topical Pure USP Grade Magnesium Oil and massaging it on your temples, along with taking vitamin D, could be a good first step to manage exam-related stress.

• Magnesium blends

If you want to try something a little different but still based on magnesium oil, magnesium blends can be a great option. The difference between pure magnesium oil and magnesium blends is that blends combine magnesium oil with other ingredients for a specific effect.

For example, Seven Minerals offers blends like Sleep Well (with Cedarwood, Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, and Clary Sage) and Calming (with Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, and Bergamot). These blends may naturally and safely soothe the nervous system, help regulate stress and anxiety, and improve sleep.

And we all know that good, regular sleep is one of the most important factors in managing stress.

• Magnesium flake baths

All being said, we can see that transdermal magnesium could not only be potentially very effective but it could also be better than taking tablets, which can sometimes upset the stomach. Besides topically applying magnesium oil on your temples or feet soles, another good option might be taking hot Magnesium Flake baths. There are different types of magnesium flakes, but Seven Minerals' Deep Relaxation and Sleep Well flakes might be a great choice because they target stress and anxiety.

Just fill the tub with lukewarm water before bed, add a small amount of the flakes, enjoy the nice scent, and relax.

• Practice Physical Activity

Whether you work out at the gym, exercise at home, practice yoga, or enjoy a walk in nature (while the weather is still nice), physical activity can help take your mind off exams, boost your energy, and improve your overall well-being.

Studies show that physical activity has many benefits, including:

1. Increases endorphins: Exercise raises endorphin levels, creating a feel-good effect, whether you’re running, playing tennis, or hiking.
2. Combats stress: Exercise mimics the body’s stress responses, helping you cope and benefiting your cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems.
3. Boosts mood: Regular exercise can improve self-confidence, mood, and relaxation. It also reduces mild depression and anxiety and improves sleep quality. Overall, these benefits help lower stress and increase your sense of control.

• Enjoy your free time and engage in mindful hobbies

It’s understandable to focus the majority of your time on studying and preparing for exams, but don’t forget how important it is to have free time (especially properly spent free time) to function well and complete your assignments effectively.

Try keeping a journal, listening to music, reading a book, being creative, painting, pursuing your hobbies, spending time with loved ones, and relaxing. Give your brain a break from all the information overload to avoid burnout.

Also, try to spend as much free time away from screens as you can. You already spend a lot of time looking at the computer and books while studying.

• Watch your diet

We totally get it! When you’re studying for an exam, it’s easy to cope with stress by snacking or relying on coffee and energy drinks. But this can turn into a vicious cycle. Stress makes us crave sugar and caffeine, which can boost cortisol levels and leave us feeling even more anxious.

That’s why what you eat really matters when it comes to managing stress. Research shows that not getting enough nutrients and eating too many refined sugars can ramp up anxiety.

To keep your stress in check, focus on whole foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Don’t forget to add omega-3 fatty acids from things like fatty fish and walnuts. Staying hydrated is super important, too, so drink plenty of water.

Conclusion

Exam season can be super stressful, but there are ways to keep that stress from hurting your health. A little anxiety is totally normal—it shows that you care about doing well! But it’s important to stay within healthy limits. With these tips, we hope you’ll be on your way to managing stress and getting great exam results. Good luck!

Also in Health Center