The Complete Guide to Calming Exam StressSample

Did you know that some people think with a voice in their heads narrating their thoughts, while others think in pictures and images? Which type of thinker are you? Do you hear your stress, like a voice telling you everything you have to get done? Or do you see the stress—picturing the exam, seeing the questions and details?

The inside of your brain is a fascinating space. It hosts your habits and creativity, self-talk and all those random facts you learn on TikTok. God designed your mind to be an incredible part of who you are, full of capacity and personality!

When we're facing stress, our minds go into hyperdrive. For some, it can make our headspace a noisy place. For others, it can have us in an endless loop of anxiety. Maybe that means there’s too much going on, or maybe, to cope, you feel like everything shuts down. No matter how stress impacts you, there's a way to manage your stress that clears that mental clutter in a productive way.

The Bible tells us that we're not caged in by our thoughts. It tells us that we can renew our minds (Rom. 12:2) and can choose what we set our minds on (Col. 3:2, Phil. 4:8). Isn’t this good news? You don’t have to feel like you are stuck in hyperdrive.

So, how do we help clear mental space so that we can focus better, rest deeper and think clearly? Here are some simple ways to manage mental stress:

1. Start by taking your thoughts captive.

This step reminds us that even our minds can come under the peace of Jesus. But it requires us to step outside the overwhelm and not let it rule us. We can bring it all to God.

2. Renew your mind.

Renew means to make new, restore freshness or regenerate. Doesn’t that sound refreshing? This is something that you can do after you’ve handed your thoughts to God because He is now holding all the stress and worry. Renewing your mind is a way of choosing to think God’s way and aligning your thoughts with His will for you (which is always good!).

3. Set your mind on better things.

Once you’ve taken your thoughts captive and renewed your mind to remember that God has good plans for you, you can then fill your mind. Meditation is a popular way of managing stress, and the Bible even tells us that this is a good thing to do! But God’s way of mediation is less about emptying your mind and is more about filling it with good things. You can choose to set your mind on higher things (Col. 3:2, Phil 4:8).

These things will help minimize stress and remind you of God’s good plan for your life. It will help you remember how incredible your mind is and how God has given you everything you need to study well, stay focused and think positively about your exams.