The natural way to combat exam stress

Taken from “In touch Jan De Vries” by Beverley Mackenzie

It’s that time in the academic year when revision and studying becomes part of each student’s daily life.Whether you’re studying at school, university or college, exams and long periods of revision can often bring stress, worry and mental fatigue. Unless you know how to positively deal with these factors, they can hinder your revision and sometimes even your performance on the day.
There are however, several excellent ways to combat the anxieties associated with exams including diet, supplements, exercise and relaxation.

DIET
Drink fruit juice & water instead of high caffeine drinks such as tea, coffee and fizzy drinks.
Herbal teas such as lemon balm and camomile are very relaxing and can help you get a good night’s sleep.
Walnuts are a great source of benefit in helping brain function.
A bowl of porridge each morning during your exam weeks will help frayed nerves and calm tensions, thanks to the calming properties of oats.
Eat a light dinner with not too many stodgy carbohydrates the night before an exam, helping you get a quality sleep.
Vitamin B is important as it supports the immune system, is a great energy producer and is very good for the nervous system. It can be found in nuts, wholegrain cereals, green vegetables, dairy produce, chicken, fish, pork and yeast extracts.

RELAXATION
Go for a short walk in the fresh air to help clear and refresh your brain, ready for the next period of studying.
Unwind in a warm bath to soothe any stress and calm down body and mind.
Take 10 minutes away from revising to listen to some music, or read a chapter of your favourite book.
The camomile tea bags that you used for your night time cuppa can be put in the fridge to cool and then placed on each closed eyelid for up to 10 minutes. These will help to soothe tired, strained eyes.

SUPPLEMENTS
Flower essences are simple and safe to take and are very useful in promoting positivity. They can re-energise a tired system and dispel negative emotions. “Concentration Essence” is great in helping to keep the mind clear during periods of excessive mental work i.e. studying and exams. It’s also a great support during study periods, assignments and project deadlines. You can add it to your water bottle and sip it throughout your exams and it can also be taken to help generate inner confidence and inner clarity.
Fish oil supplements – this is a very beneficial source of essential fatty acids, which can help with memory and retention of information.
Taken from “In touch Jan De Vries” by Beverley Mackenzie (with thanks)