Tisserand Aromatherapy essential oils are great little helpers during exam time. Relaxing essential oils can help you wind down in the evening and get a good night’s sleep; energising essential oils will give you the motivation to keep going, and then there are essential oils to help you focus or calm nervous tension.
With exam season approaching for thousands of students across the country this means late night revision sessions and the risk of through the roof anxiety levels. Feeling under pressure during exam season is natural. Managed well, you can avoid the risk of it turning into stress. Some of us thrive under pressure, it can motivate us and help us perform at our best. For others, it’s the total opposite; we struggle and feel overwhelmed.
It’s a daunting time, whether you yourself are getting ready for your finals or someone in your family is about to sit their GCSE’s or A-Levels. As well as being prepared and putting in the study hours, it’s really important to take time out to relax and unwind and look after your wellbeing.
We’ve got a few tips and ideas to help you channel your inner calm and get you through this challenging time…..
8 Top Tips for Managing Exam Stress
Stay Calm
Channelling your inner calm will do wonders for your nerves and your grades. Sophie Scott, Tisserand Aromatherapy sponsored gymnast, is no stranger to pressure. The rising star took her GCSE’s last year whilst competing. “I take my health and wellbeing seriously and find aromatherapy and essential oil blends help keep me focused, energised and rested. Competing whilst studying for my exams is challenging. Keeping my mind strong and balanced, as well as my body, makes all the difference.”
Essential oil tip: relieve the air of tension by diffusing essential oils known to calm the senses, such as Frankincense and Lavender. Or take a breather and enjoy some calm with our Little Box of Relaxation complete with Mind Clear, Inner Harmony and Total De-Stress Pulse Point Roller Balls.
Study smart
A common trigger for exam anxiety is the feeling of not having done enough. Putting in the hours pays off, but only if you use that time efficiently. Choose a quiet place to study and make sure you are not interrupted or distracted and keep your mind fresh by taking regular breaks.
Dating back centuries to the days of the ancient Greeks, Rosemary has been used to help improve memory and performance, and now a recent study by Northumbria University has shone the spotlight back on this magical herb. Researchers found that students studying in a room with Rosemary Essential Oil, diffused into the air, achieved between five and seven per cent better results in memory tests than those without the essential oil aroma.
Go easy on the caffeine
A little bit of stimulant may keep you alert, but too much will actually increase your anxiety. You want to be attentive, not jittery. Pace yourself and drink plenty of water – dehydration can cause lack of energy and fatigue, so boosting your energy level can be as simple as drinking more water instead of fuelling up on caffeinated beverages.
Essential oil tip: pep your senses naturally with energising essential oils, such as Lemon and Bergamot. For a quick livener, spritz our Energy High MoodFix Mist around your body and let the blend of Coriander, Lime and Orange Leaf give you a pick-me-up.
Eat healthy
Eating healthy is always better for your body and mind, but during exam season it’s more important than ever. Emma Olliff, trained nutritionist and a member of the Tisserand Aromatherapy Wellbeing Collective, says, “although there is no specific diet to relieve stress, eating healthy meals keeps your body well nourished, strong and better equipped to deal with stress.” Here are her top three exam stress busters….
- Eat small meals often that contain protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats to avoid high and low blood sugar.
- Get plenty of Vitamin C, as an antioxidant. In one study, large doses of vitamin C reduced physical and mental responses to stress.
- Avoid refined foods, such as white bread, pasta and sugar; and choose to eat more whole foods. This will keep your blood sugar stable, which means fewer mood swings, reduced stress and a happier body.
Practice the power of positive thinking
Staying positive and confident is half the battle with exam prep. Easy said than done, but repeating positive affirmations to yourself can help keep your mind healthy. Simple statements such as, ‘I have done my best’, ‘it will be ok, whatever happens’, ‘feeling anxious is normal’ and ‘there is more to me than an exam result’, will help control your fears and give perspective.
Essential oil tip: use motivational oils to help you stay positive, such as Cardamom and May Chang. For a pre-blended hit of positivity use our Happy Vibes Pulse Point Roller, blended with Lemon Tea Tree, Bergamot and Nutmeg to help you stay positive.
Get plenty of sleep
Cramming for exams and sleeping are diametrically opposed, but for the best results, you need to sleep. Sleep fulfils a vital role in keeping us healthy; we need a good night’s sleep to ensure we’re feeling fit and thinking sharply.
Essential oil tip: clear a mind buzzing with facts and figures before bed by using relaxing and calming oils, such as Chamomile, Lavender and Petitgrain. Our award-winning Sleep Better collection is proven to help you switch-off, drift-off and wake-up recharged. In recent user trials, 94% saw an improvement in their overall sleep.
Get some exercise
Go for a run, do a class, play a game of tennis with friends or practice yoga in your bedroom. The physical stress on your body can actually help relieve emotional stress, tension and anxiety.
Essential oil tip: studying and exercising hard may see you through exam season but if you find yourself with aching muscles our Muscle Ease blend is just the ticket to keep you going. Blended using spicy Ginger, refreshing Lemongrass and toning Rosemary essential oils, this aromatic blend will help soothe tired muscles and keep you moving.
Treat yourself
Break up your revision with something fun, whether that’s seeing friends, doing an exercise class you love, indulging in a little retail therapy or having a massage. This emotional pick-me-up will do wonders. For an added wellbeing boost, book a calming and relaxing aromatherapy massage to ease away tension.
Essential oil tip: our Total De-Stress Massage & Body Oil is perfect for a relaxing massage. Blended with Geranium, Orange and Nutmeg pure essential oils in a skin-pampering base of Jojoba and Sesame oils, it will help soothe away all your pre-exam nerves.
If you’re studying hard this spring, best of luck!
