{"id":1632,"date":"2024-09-26T11:01:47","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T18:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/?p=1632"},"modified":"2024-09-26T11:01:47","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T18:01:47","slug":"prioritizing-mental-health-during-exam-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/2024\/09\/26\/prioritizing-mental-health-during-exam-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Prioritizing Mental Health During Exam Season"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Exam season\u2014two words that instantly bring stress to every student\u2019s mind. For us in mechanical engineering, balancing difficult courses, projects, and the pressure to perform well can be overwhelming. But while studying and acing exams is important, taking care of your mental health during this high-stress period is even more crucial.<\/p>\n

\"r\/sciencememes\"Image Credit: r\/sciencememes<\/pre>\n
For me, de-stressing is key to staying focused and relaxed. Going for a run, playing soccer, or doing a quick workout really helps me clear my mind. Physical activity works wonders when you’re stuck in study mode for hours, and it doesn\u2019t have to be complicated\u2014just get moving. Whether it’s hitting the gym or taking a 15-minute walk around campus, you\u2019ll feel the difference. It gives your brain a break, helps with focus, and resets your energy.<\/p>\n
Sleep\u2014Easier Said Than Done, Right?<\/strong><\/p>\n
Getting 8-9 hours of sleep before an exam is what I aim for, but I know that\u2019s not everyone\u2019s reality\u2014especially for those who like pulling all-nighters. I\u2019ve found that sleep is one of the biggest contributors to my performance. Sure, it\u2019s easier said than done, but if you can manage even a few nights of proper rest leading up to exams, you\u2019ll feel a lot more prepared. When I head into an exam, I go with a relaxed mindset, hoping for the best but knowing that a well-rested brain will work more efficiently than one running on caffeine and no sleep.<\/p>\n
Study Habits: Different for Everyone<\/strong><\/p>\n
Everyone studies in their own way. Some people create meticulous notes, formula sheets, PowerPoints, or flashcards. For me, I\u2019m all about pen and paper. I like solving problems on blank sheets, getting my thoughts out of my head and onto the page. Now, I\u2019m not the most organized\u2014I tend to overwrite on the same paper with different course material or random thoughts. It may not look pretty, but it works for me.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re like me and sometimes your thoughts are racing in all directions, here\u2019s a trick: Treat your mind like a program running multiple threads. When I get overwhelmed, I use a mental \u201ctask queue\u201d\u2014I prioritize the most important task, focus on it, and \u201cdequeue\u201d it by writing it down if I get stuck. I switch to the next task, and return to the first one once I have more clarity. This stops the mental race conditions (yeah, that’s the programmer in me talking!) and helps me stay focused.<\/p>\n
Fueling Your Brain: Hydration and Good Food<\/strong><\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget the basics\u2014hydration and good food. I always keep water with me and try to eat well during exam season. It\u2019s easy to neglect proper meals when you\u2019re cramming, but you\u2019ll perform better if your body has the right fuel. Trust me, energy drinks and chips won\u2019t cut it long term.<\/p>\n
A Final Thought: Exams Don\u2019t Define You<\/strong><\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the most important thing I can tell you: a piece of paper does not determine who you are or what you will become<\/strong>. There will be easy exams and difficult ones\u2014that\u2019s inevitable. But your mental health and well-being should always come first. The stress you feel now is just a small piece of your journey, and if you consistently put in effort over time, that hard work will pay off. Looking back, you\u2019ll see that one difficult exam was just a bump in the road of your personal growth.<\/p>\n
To everyone reading this: You\u2019ve made it this far in mechanical engineering or you\u2019re planning to, which means you\u2019re already incredibly smart and capable. Be proud of yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back, take care of your mind and body, and get ready to give your best shot to the exams ahead.<\/p>\n
Good luck\u2014you\u2019ve got this! (\u256f\u25bd\u2570 )<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Exam season\u2014two words that instantly bring stress to every student\u2019s mind. For us in mechanical engineering, balancing difficult courses, projects, and the pressure to perform well can be overwhelming. But while studying and acing exams is important, taking care of your mental health during this high-stress period is even more crucial. Image Credit: r\/sciencememes For […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102696,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4265571],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mech-undergrad"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102696"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1632"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1689,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1632\/revisions\/1689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mechambassadors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}