Paying attention to what’s going on right this second can be hard for students after finishing Mock and WACE exams and now beginning their written ATAR exams. Often, it is easy to spend more time thinking about what’s coming up in the future. However, it is possible to train yourself to focus on the present moment, using a practice called mindfulness.
Mindfulness can help you ‘de-centre’ from negative thoughts. Students undertaking exams will experience thoughts like, ‘I won’t be able to remember all this,’ or ‘If I fail this exam, I’m never going to pass/graduate/succeed’. Yet, over time and with practice, you can develop the ability to stand back from such thought patterns.
According to Smiling Mind, mindfulness improves students’ ability to retain information in periods of stress by improving an individual’s attention span, working memory, and reducing their emotional reactivity. In addition, a study conducted with 6,000 school-aged people found mindfulness practice is associated with improved mental health and academic performance.
Here are a few tips for practising mindfulness during your exams:
- Meditation – concentrate on your senses and breathing in a quiet space.
- Lectio 365 – practice daily Christian devotions with this popular meditation app.
- Switch off technology – while easier said than done, try reducing your phone usage in the hour before bed.
- Stick to a sleep routine – try to aim for eight to nine hours of sleep
- Get creative – take some time to do something that brings you into the present moment – whether that be drawing, painting, colouring in, or reading.
- Seek support – it’s not unusual to need help during exams. Reach out to your friends, family, and the Pastoral Care team at Kennedy.
We wish our students all the best as they continue to work hard during this exam season.
Discover how Kennedy Baptist College prepares and supports students’ wellbeing and mental health by finding out more about our exceptional Pastoral Care Program, downloading our Prospectus below or by contacting our Registrar’s Office on 08 9314 7722 or via email enrolment@kennedy.wa.edu.au
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