Keeping your Head in Exam SeasonNick Beasley - 27 Apr 2017

We love this blog, offering loads of practical wisdom and advice for anyone in the challenging process of exams. Worth reading; and sharing. 

So we’re in spring - and it feels like the sun is coming out a little more, and staying out a little longer. But, as spring days roll into summer, that doesn’t necessarily signal the start of a wind down to the lazy sunny days...

For millions, May and June means crunch time – 7 years at school, 3 or so at uni - culminating in a series of exams and essays. And,(speaking as one who wrote the majority of his essays the night before they were due) this season represents more than just deadlines and exams. 

It’s the time when our stress and anxiety hit new heights; our self worth and confidence hit new lows.

It can be one of hardest, loneliest and most stressful times we’ll go through. The sun doesn’t shine very brightly in an exam hall…

BUT EXAMS ARE WORTH IT, RIGHT?

Because our lives are important and the lives we get to live are defined by our achievements and qualifications, right? Our achievements are measured in these assessments – so in a way, these exams define the rest of our lives. Good grades mean good jobs, and good jobs mean happy lives. Right?

But there isn’t one formula for doing life well. There’s a lot of stuff that happens in between each of those steps that defines our lives; so much more than grades. 

And though we all know this to be true, we don’t always act like we know it. And the night before an exam, we tend to forget it altogether.      

Exams are important, and working hard is a huge part of our spiritual growth. We're called to love God with all of ourselves -  that includes our intellect. We're privileged to be in a position where we can learn and grow. But, in all of that we have to do our best to maintain perspective.

Don’t let grades overstep their boundaries and start defining you. 

There are practical steps we take and decisions we can make to help us to regain perspective. 

5 Tips for surviving exam season

1. DO NOTHING

"Be still and know that I am God."  

Be still – stop what you’re doing for a while and don’t do anything else. Pick a few Bible verses that will help keep you to find peace. away from work. 

2. DO SOMETHING

Get active: get out and moving and do some exercise. Whether a run, cycle or walk, fresh air is one of the best ways to de-stress. 

3. DO SOMETHING ELSE

Get joyful - find something uncompromisingly fun to do. Watch something funny, go out for some tasty food or talk to someone about a non-study related topic. The joy of the Lord is your strength.

4. DO SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT

Regain some perspective – if things are overwhelming; decide to make something else feel more important. Turn your eyes upwards - read a Bible verse or spend some time in worship. Pray in the most creative or simple way you can think. 

5. DON’T DO IT ALONE

"And be sure of this: I am with you always..."

Not as practical, but definitely reassuring. If God is always with you, then that includes in an exam hall or the last midnight before a deadline. Pray as you revise. Pray in the exam; it’s practically cheating it’s so helpful.

ARE YOU TIRED? WORN OUT? BURNED OUT ON RELIGION? COME TO ME. GET AWAY WITH ME AND YOU’LL RECOVER YOUR LIFE. I’LL SHOW YOU HOW TO TAKE A REAL REST. WALK WITH ME AND WORK WITH ME—WATCH HOW I DO IT. LEARN THE UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE. I WON’T LAY ANYTHING HEAVY OR ILL-FITTING ON YOU. KEEP COMPANY WITH ME AND YOU’LL LEARN TO LIVE FREELY AND LIGHTLY.”

MATTHEW 11:28-30 [MSG] 

And remember -  God doesn’t love us for our achievements. He loves you because that’s what he’s best at doing. You can’t earn or achieve or study for God's love. He just loves us, whatever our exam results.