7 answers
Samantha
Student
Newtown, Connecticut
2
Questions
Updated
758 views
I tend to get very anxious towards the end of each semester. How do I maintain my focus?
Despite being on top of all my classes' assignments, tests, and even arriving on time, I still get overwhelmed with anxiety each semester. That makes it so hard to concentrate and complete the work, as I had done earlier in the semester. I tried meditation, exercise, prescribed medication and therapy. #anxiety-management #frustrated
7 answers
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
842
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Samantha,
The end of the semester is an important time. I remember stress levels going up because finals are usually a big part of the grade for your class. While it is a hard thing, you cannot change your routine especially if it is a good one. That is the hard part. Think about athletes in distance sports. The goal for many of them is consistency. Sure, there is a push at the end a lot of the times, but you cannot worry about the push until you need it. Action is often a balm to worry. If you are worried, make a plan. It will remind you that you know what you are doing to stay on task. The harder part is to trust the plan.
I would challenge you to combat worry with physical action. You mentioned meditation, but maybe you need something more active. Just get moving. As you have done a lot of things, I might offer something else. Try to learn something new. Not a new subject, but something that requires you to be physical. Learning something new takes you out of everything since it requires focus. I would recommend learning a certain type of dance. This is melding the physical with learning. It is hard to think about your worries when you are trying to avoid falling, tripping, or running into someone. I took Flamenco dancing, but tap dancing would be something that I would like to try as well. Not only did i have to focus on my arms and legs rather than my head, I made a group of friends that I would never have made otherwise. I left every class with a clear head because I had been to another place.
There will always be times of worry and stress. What works now may not work later. I encourage you to continue your journey to find what works for you. You will find it.
Gloria
The end of the semester is an important time. I remember stress levels going up because finals are usually a big part of the grade for your class. While it is a hard thing, you cannot change your routine especially if it is a good one. That is the hard part. Think about athletes in distance sports. The goal for many of them is consistency. Sure, there is a push at the end a lot of the times, but you cannot worry about the push until you need it. Action is often a balm to worry. If you are worried, make a plan. It will remind you that you know what you are doing to stay on task. The harder part is to trust the plan.
I would challenge you to combat worry with physical action. You mentioned meditation, but maybe you need something more active. Just get moving. As you have done a lot of things, I might offer something else. Try to learn something new. Not a new subject, but something that requires you to be physical. Learning something new takes you out of everything since it requires focus. I would recommend learning a certain type of dance. This is melding the physical with learning. It is hard to think about your worries when you are trying to avoid falling, tripping, or running into someone. I took Flamenco dancing, but tap dancing would be something that I would like to try as well. Not only did i have to focus on my arms and legs rather than my head, I made a group of friends that I would never have made otherwise. I left every class with a clear head because I had been to another place.
There will always be times of worry and stress. What works now may not work later. I encourage you to continue your journey to find what works for you. You will find it.
Gloria
Jose Garcia
Singer
45
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jose’s Answer
You're alright and you're doing just fine! Have faith in yourself and know that you are loved. If you never accomplished another thing in life you'll still be a beautiful and wonderful person. This is not to say your work isn't important. In my work patients have thanked me for just taking the time to talk to them when most staff didn't. My point is there was staff who knew more than I did about the work but it was character which separated us. Think about it, what if you did know everything there is to know but weren't good at translating that knowledge into something helpful in the world you live in.?
Smile and just try to do the best you can and be true to yourself: not stretching yourself so much to please everybody but all the while feeling unsatisfied or miserable. We are only human and not responsible for answering every question or problem in the world. It sounds that you love to learn which is an outstanding quality but all work and no play isn't necessary. Please enjoy your life and what you have accomplished. Take the time to smell the flowers, develop your interests outside of your academics. Lastly, leave something for other people to do to otherwise you'll be lonely and try doing acts of kindness for the less fortunate. Good luck and remember the answers come from within you not reaching outside of yourself which will only cause emotional pain.
Smile and just try to do the best you can and be true to yourself: not stretching yourself so much to please everybody but all the while feeling unsatisfied or miserable. We are only human and not responsible for answering every question or problem in the world. It sounds that you love to learn which is an outstanding quality but all work and no play isn't necessary. Please enjoy your life and what you have accomplished. Take the time to smell the flowers, develop your interests outside of your academics. Lastly, leave something for other people to do to otherwise you'll be lonely and try doing acts of kindness for the less fortunate. Good luck and remember the answers come from within you not reaching outside of yourself which will only cause emotional pain.
Sergei Dines
Founder & President of Aksiomtek
10
Answers
Updated
Sergei’s Answer
Specific techniques : (1) Relaxing / Ambient Music (2) Study Music such as this : (3) Hang up the flowchart for your major/technical school and cross of , with a good color, classes as completed (4) create a goal picture you look at every day (5) create a life-style collage you look at every day (6) just repeat that it's a piece of paper and you just gotta get through (7) Review old photos, your home town, think about making your parents proud, ect, (8) listen to motivational speeches right before a test ( do not study an hour before instead listen to a speech or something inspiring as you will not learn anymore in that time but your attitude can shift). Hope these specific tactics helped. P.S. this speech (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO_9KWa9LSc) got me through a really tough test, and possibly engineering school. I listened to it literally right before the test and I destroyed that piece of paper, having been at a really low point mentally just moments before listening to it. Don't underestimate your goals and attitude. They drive you to get through the struggle and get onto what you were meant to do.
Jackie van Mels
4
Answers
Updated
Jackie’s Answer
It sounds like you are doing a really good job preparing and arriving on time. You need to congratulate yourself for what you are doing good. You are doing great and it is good idea to focus on what you want to experience. How would it feel to get good grades and pass your exams. Focus on how this would feel. I recommend that you change the way you think and really focus on what you want to experience. Say things like:
"I am a good student. I really care about doing well in school. I have confidence in myself. I can do this. I am doing all the right things. I study and really care about doing well in school. I believe in myself. I am doing this. I am allowing myself to succeed. This doesn't have to be hard. Learning can be fun. I like learning knew things. I am confident and I believe in myself. Every day is getting better and better and better."
"I am a good student. I really care about doing well in school. I have confidence in myself. I can do this. I am doing all the right things. I study and really care about doing well in school. I believe in myself. I am doing this. I am allowing myself to succeed. This doesn't have to be hard. Learning can be fun. I like learning knew things. I am confident and I believe in myself. Every day is getting better and better and better."
Scott Foster
Consulting
31
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Scott’s Answer
Something that I practice when I notice an uptick in my anxiety or stress levels is to take a few seconds/minutes to do breathing exercises. You can do this anywhere! Finding a quiet and peaceful area always helps as well! A quick Google search of "breathing exercises" will provide you with several options. Again, it doesn't need to be very long. Just a couple deep breaths will help!
Manu Gupta
Senior SQA Engineer
1
Answer
Singapore
Updated
Manu’s Answer
Faith on yourself and Confidence in what you are doing is best - these two things can help you achieve what you want in your life. Yoga, Meditation & good karma where you are not hurting others intentionally always works. Meditation connects you to your inner-self and Yoga helps you in relaxation.
Stressing yourself, getting worried on the issues where you don't have control or they are not in your scope will only make your learning slow. There is no positive impact of stress. It makes you feel negative about everything that is nearby you!!
Keep away from bad thoughts, people who give you negative vibes, try meditation and listen to good music:)
Stressing yourself, getting worried on the issues where you don't have control or they are not in your scope will only make your learning slow. There is no positive impact of stress. It makes you feel negative about everything that is nearby you!!
Keep away from bad thoughts, people who give you negative vibes, try meditation and listen to good music:)
Vinodkumar Tiwari
Manager
12
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Vinodkumar’s Answer
Hello Samantha,
First of all trust yourself. Have that confidence that you have done good preparation and you will do well in the exams.
Have proper time allocations for everything, too much of stress on studies also makes you nervous so try to do some meditation ( and yes, don't think about your studies when you are meditating). It is a very powerful tool, but the results will depend on how well you do it. You can find lot of techniques on internet which will benefit you.
Hope this is helpful. Stay Positive and confident!
First of all trust yourself. Have that confidence that you have done good preparation and you will do well in the exams.
Have proper time allocations for everything, too much of stress on studies also makes you nervous so try to do some meditation ( and yes, don't think about your studies when you are meditating). It is a very powerful tool, but the results will depend on how well you do it. You can find lot of techniques on internet which will benefit you.
Hope this is helpful. Stay Positive and confident!
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