Exam-stress? Counsellors suggest rest, lifestyle changes

CHANDIGARH: “When I feel stressed about exams, I clutch my heart and say ‘All is well’,” says Aashna. She, like lakhs of students across India, is preparing for the CBSE examinations due later this week. TOI talks to students and counsellors on tips and tricks of dealing with stress.
The first CBSE core examination for classes XII and X are on February 24 and 27, respectively, both of English core.Considered to be one of the most important examinations in India, the ‘board fear’ is expected to induce some stress in the students.
The Covid effect
While for Aashna Rishi, a Class X student of DPS Sector 40, it is her trust in her notes that makes her confident for exams, Moti Ram Arya School’s Class XII student Vaishnavi says she’s not that stressed because she’s appearing for the board exams for the first time. There was no Class-X Board exam for the 2023 batch due to the lockdown. This batch, otherwise dubbed ‘Covid-batch’, deals with the exams differently than their seniors. Student counsellor Harpreet Kaur says this is because these students are not acquainted with the board exam’s pattern. But what comes as a relief for Vaishnavi, scares another Class XII student Aishneet.
She says she takes a nap when she feels stressed. She has also barred the entry of her relatives from her home till her exams. “They only stress me and waste time.”
Expectations, a worry
Counsellor Harpreet Kaur addresses this issue. She adds ‘parental pressure’ is a leading cause behind stress amongst students. Danishdeep Kaur, student counsellor at Chitkara Internation School, Chandigarh, says it is also the “high expectations of parents and teachers” that worry students. Counselling to curb stress
Danishdeep says when a student takes the “wrong” field under pressure from parents, it also worries them. She recommends students to take regular career counselling from Class VIII onwards.
‘ Give up coffee; sleep more’
The counsellors say students should take deep breaths before reading the questions. Students should reduce caffeine intake as it only makes them active but they’re unable to retain what they learn. Students must sleep adequately and take required sugar to help regularize their blood pressure.