a guide on how to study when the thought of it makes you even more stressed
(disclaimer: iām not a professional therapist or doctor, simply a student who has been dealing with severe anxiety since i was eleven years old. that being said, i donāt have much anxiety around schoolwork or testing, so my advice may not be the most helpful- take what i say with a grain of salt.)
while it has been a long time since iāve felt anxious about studying, and therefore canāt provide much help with that, i do regularly have to study in situations where i am already anxious or in the middle of anxiety attack. these are some of the things i do to help myself calm down and focus.
calm down. if iām near panic or feel too restless to sit still, i need to let my body and mind chill before i can even think about schoolwork. if iām feeling really jittery, a quick walk outside or dancing it out to some high-energy pop music helps me settle down a bit. then i like to meditate, in order to get my focus and thoughts under control.
next, make the space youāll be studying in comfortable and safe. what this means will depend on what you need during an anxiety attack. some people are comforted by familiar items and coziness, such as blankets, candles, and stuffed animals. when iām stressed, i usually need a more clean and organized space, with everything put away in its place (or just out of sight) and only the things i need with me. things like tea, fidget toys, and familiar smells can help to ground you as well. if youāre not at home, libraries tend to be a good option, since they are quiet, relaxing, and often familiar spaces. if youāre stuck in school and the library isnāt an option, try an empty classroom or stairwell.
break everything down. when iām stressed, my executive functioning goes haywire. in order to get anything done, i have to plan out my moves in very explicit detail. this is easiest for me to do on a computer document. first, i write down all of the assignments that i have to get done. then, i break each of them down into smaller and smaller tasks, until they are simple enough that each takes less than a minute and could be easily explained to a child.Ā
get to work! i usually start with the easiest task, so that i donāt get overwhelmed or start to doubt my abilities, since that would make me more stressed. for me, this is usually math, since puzzles with definite rules tend to calm me down when iām anxious, and iām more likely to get stuck on less structured work like english readings or art projects.
donāt forget to take breaks.Ā especially if your brain is dealing with an excess of nerves, and stress, you will need to let it rest and recharge frequently. i like to set a timer where i work for twelve minutes, take a three minute break, and then repeat. if this feels too long or too short for you, feel free to adjust it to fit your needs.
most importantly, go to sleep.Ā i know itās tempting to stay up late studying or doing homework, especially if you havenāt finished all of your assignments yet, but there is nothing that will make your anxiety worse than sleep deprivation. take care of your body, first and foremost. itās the only one youāre ever going to have.