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Dealing with STRESS
I am very stressed out at the moment, to the point where I am continuously having trouble falling asleep, focus when I really need to, keep myself motivated, etc., etc. I am preparing for one of the most important exams of my academic (and professional) life, the dreaded LSAT, and the stress is, of course, doing absolutely nothing to improve the situation; it's debilitating in a way. I understand that most people who have to take this exam are stressed- the whole law school application process, along with this exam, is enough to drive more than a couple people berserk. But the thought that everyone in this boat goes through this is doing nothing to help.
I thought I'd ask for some advice on how to manage stress...it could only help. For anyone (and I imagine it's lots of people) who has had test anxiety, stress of any sort, actually, what are some good (and healthy) ways to manage the stress and keep focused? It's getting in the way of everything...so any advice is appreciated.
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Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Health?
Well, these are the only tips:
xRant to a friend. It helps somewhat.
xExercising helps you get your mind off thing (running, yoga, pilates, stretching)
xTake mini breaks from studying (study only 20min at a time then take a 10 minutes break because your brain can store up to only 20min of what you study in one sitting)
xDedicate 3-5 hrs of a day once a week to just chillaxing. Hang with friends, watch a movie, etc.
xCleaning always helps me. (Laundry, bathroom, room, fridge, organizing shoes and books, etc).
On the day of your LSAT:
Eat chicken or any other form of protein for breakfast or whatever meal you have before. Take Pepto Bismol (lol) so you don't worry about having to go potty during the exam. Eat a banana or two (beta blocker..keeps you calm) but don't eat too much or it can have a soporific effect on you. Breath in a out and think about what you'll do tomorrow or what you'll do after the exam to celebrate.
Also, I don't know if this is true...but while you study, eat mint or chew gum. And then when you take the LSAT, eat or chew whatever you were doing while you were studying. Apparently, the brain will remember more when you repeat the same situation? I don't know if it's true or not.
Anywhos, good luck!
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I know what you feel about going through stress. When I had to take the MCAT and go through the process of getting into medical school- I was barely sleeping, not eating, self- medicating (then again I was a coasting senior), but regardless, I found that later exams that I had to take (United States Medical Licensing Exam)- I found a better way to deal with the stress.
The first thing is to make yourself a study schedule. Cramming is a horrible thing to do and will not help you retain information. Come up with a realistic time line on how much time you think you will need to prepare sufficiently for the exam.
Second, you cannot spend 8-12 hours a day studying for this exam. You need to spend some time doing things that you enjoy and just like your study schedule you need to stick to them.
Exercising, yoga, pilates are all great ways to relieve stress.
Eat foods that are high protein and low sugar/ carbs. Carbs and sugar will eventually make you feel really tired. protein, fruits and vegetables will not make you as tired.
Remember- stress in small doses is a good thing- it helps our brains and our bodies in situations. Learning to control stress is a wonderful skill to have. Also, remember, this is one exam- it is not your life, because I thought that way of the MCAT. If you prepare and have passion, it will come out- especially if you interview- and you will be a great lawyer.
Best of luck,
AK
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I completely understand. I took the CPA exam and it was stressful. I couldn't eat or sleep. I found out that studying too much causes you to forget and stress more.
I wanted to go to law school at first, but it would've been really hard for me to do because I had children at such a young age, but I was thankful to finish college with a double major and take the CPA exam.
Managing the stress - devote a specified number of hours to study do not go over that time. Once completed, light some candles (aroma candles if at all possible), listen to some Floetry and
Maxwell, or some nice soft jazz - Eric Roberson is great, and shut the lights off or turn them down really low, take a hot bath with steam and bubbles, and just chill. Turn off the phone, and the tv this allows your mind to relax. The mind must relax before the body can, seriously.
Change up eating habits, try cutting back on late night snacks, just as they cause nightmares, they also tend to cause the mind to jump everywhere, and that is not relaxing your mind at all, it's doing the complete opposite.
It's great to study, but don't over study it's causing you to stress out more. Trust me you will be just fine, get that confidence up and know that you got this! good luck and take it easy, literally. "smile"
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