The Complete Guide to Calming Exam StressSample

Exam season is stressful, isn’t it? Lists and notes, subjects and grades, time and focus—all these things pile up in our minds and overwhelm us. You’re not alone!

Take a moment to visualize how you feel right now. Do you feel like you are in deep water? Do you feel like you are walking through thick mud? Do you feel like you are looking out at an approaching storm?

It’s okay to feel that way. In fact, in order to calm that stress, it’s important to start by acknowledging it and what it feels like for you.

Once you know where you are at, you can make a way forward. There is a path through exam stress that has peace, and you can choose to take it.

How do you walk this path of peace, even when you are feeling the pressure of exam season? How do you feel calm when in the deep water, the mud pit or the storm?

1. Acknowledge how you are feeling. (You’ve already done this! Great job!)

Spend as much time here as you need to put words to how you feel. Validating how you’re feeling without judgment helps bring clarity. It can be especially helpful to write it down so that you can get those big feelings out of your mind and onto paper.

2. Acknowledge God’s presence with you.

Did you know that God cares about your stress? He cares about your education, friendships, health, emotions—every part of your life! When you realize that He wants to walk with you, it will remind you that you aren’t navigating your exams alone. By committing your way to Him, you’re inviting Him into each step forward. He will bring peace to your path because He already knows every step you’ll take (Psa. 37:3-5; 23-24).

3. Acknowledge that your whole self is important to God.

God created you intricately, giving value to every part of who you are. When you go through seasons of stress, it's helpful to acknowledge that you're a whole person. Stress can give us tunnel vision, and we can neglect to support ourselves well. Caring for yourself holistically can make a big difference. For the next six days, we'll explore how God made you and how to care for yourself during seasons of stress.

Take note of the categories that scored higher. Bring those fears to God in honest prayer. When we're honest about where we're at, invite God into our journey and live the way God designed us to, our exams can become a way to learn to love God with all our heart, soul and mind (Matt. 22:37-38).

Today, you took the first step in supporting yourself well so that you can do more than just survive your exams… you can thrive!