7 tips to focus your mind for exams
1. Practice mindfulness Mindfulness is a stress-management technique which involves observing your thoughts, feelings and breath. As a quick exercise, sit with your feet flat on the ground and your back straight but not touching the back of the chair. Set your phone timer to countdown for 90 seconds. Rest your right hand in your left hand and close your eyes. Breathe a little slower and more deliberately than normal, and feel the air entering and exiting your nose, your chest slowly rising and falling. When your mind wanders, silently acknowledge it and be proud that you noticed, then return to focusing on your breaths, in and out. On exam day, focusing on your breathing will calm your nerves and help you to do your best when writing time begins. 2. Destroy the distractions Sometimes it can help to have a piece of paper and pen nearby, to jot down distracting thoughts – almost as though you were taking them out of your mind and placing them onto the page instead. One of t...