Exam season is almost upon us, TEENs. Cue cramming, late nights, eye bags and desperate prayers and hopes. As usual, teenAGE has your back and we’ve got a couple tips for surviving exam stress.

1. Go outside: Research suggests that vitamin D (which we can get from sunlight) helps elevate levels of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin. And if you can’t go outside consider adding a plant or two to your study space or moving near to one – research proves your blood pressure tends to lower if you’re in a space near plants.

2. Make time for movement: Even if it’s not as strict as hitting the gym, going for a walk or dancing around to some music, or anything that involves movement makes for a good stress-reliever.

3. Slow your mind down: Try an activity that you find fun but requires attention to detail. This will get you out of your own thoughts.

4: Meditation or finding your happy place: go to a quiet place, close your eyes and breathe. Allow yourself to imagine that you are somewhere you find calming or pleasant.

5. Avoid excessive intake of caffeine and sugar: You might think this will help, and you might hear those chocolate bars calling your name but be strong and try not to give in. Excessive amounts of caffeine or sugar, when they wear out of your system will leave you listless or moody, not to mention the effect on your teeth. Excessive caffeine or sugar may trigger or worsen anxiety or panic attacks as well.

6. Don’t ignore the problem: It sucks, but exams ARE happening and that assignment WILL be collected.

7. Don’t eat your feelings: For some food is bae, and it becomes even more bae when they’re stressed. Avoid eating excessive amounts or taking in a lot of high-calorie foods. Overeating in relation to stress or any negative mood can become a reflex of sorts overtime and can exacerbate bloating or constipation (which are some physical effects of stress that some people experience).

8. Write a list: Write a clear list of what you need to do and figure out what order you should probably do the tasks in. Major key: when studying for tests or exams start with the subject you have last and work your way up to the one you have first. That way the info you need for your first exam is fresh in your mind and as you get around to your later exams you can refresh your memory on what you already know.

9. Get rid of negotiable things: Do away with stuff you might want to do but don’t have to do. Consider what’s top priority and if something else might take away a lot of time from that, then do yourself a favour and strike it off your mental to do list.

10. Find out what’s got you stressed: Sometimes when you’re stressed out it starts to feel like everything is wrong in your life. There’s no need to have an existential crisis over your History test – there’s nothing wrong with you or with your life, you just have a test to do. You’d be surprised that once you put it into perspective you’ll be ale to laugh at your own antics.

Balance is key, fam. Feel free to try the things above if you ever feel like you’re up to your eyeballs in stress but don’t get so distracted de-stressing that you forget to study or do your assignment or get around to whatever important thing it was that you needed to do. Happy studying to you all!