Deal with Exam Stress and Anxiety

To tackle exam stress and anxiety try yoga, meditation and know how they can help to increase your concentration and boost your exam preparation

Yoga and Meditation are good exercises easy to do and has lots of benefits which helps you deal with the stress and anxiety during an exam. Yoga and meditation helps the body and mind in many ways to keep it calm and reduce the tension which is common during a test. Some of the benefits of yoga and mediation to tackle exam stress and anxiety are given as follows :

• Concentration : A clear mind makes you more productive, especially in creative disciplines like writing. If you use to do yoga and meditation before exams, you came to know that it helps in improving concentration power immensely. Before you go for presentation in school, even a silent meditation helps you to have a great presentation.
• Bothered by little things : Do you sometimes allow yourself to get upset by little things? It is the nature of the mind to magnify small things into serious problems. Yoga and Meditation helps us detach. We learn to live in the here and now, rather than worrying about the past or future. We do not worry about meaningless things, but see the bigger picture. This is also true, you just don't worry if something bad incident happens and you just take it in your chin and move on.
• Health : There have been numerous research pointing to the health benefits of yoga & meditation. The reason is that meditation reduces stress levels and alleviates anxiety and keep are mind cool. It reduces stress, aches and pains, fevers, and raises your overall health.
• Knowledge of Self : Yoga & Meditation enables us to have a deeper understanding of our inner self. Through yoga & meditation we can gain a better understanding of our life's purpose.

But you don't have time for yoga & meditation :

Many of you like the idea of yoga & meditation, but feel they don't have enough time. When you really want to do something you can find time. Get up earlier or watch 30 minutes less TV. Yoga & Meditation requires an investment of time, but clearing the mind makes the rest of the day more productive. Nothing is better than the feeling of inner peace. Yoga & Meditation is not about retreating from the world; it gives us inspiration. Whatever you do, if you have peace of mind, your work will be more enjoyable and productive.

How to Meditate ?

Like anything worthwhile, meditation requires practice. To get the most from meditation you need to do it every day. This requires a place and time where you will not be disturbed.

• Sit with your back straight. Don't try to meditate lying down because you are likely to fall asleep. Meditation brings relaxation and dynamic peace. Meditation is quite different from the relaxation derived from sleeping. When we meditate, we are fully alert and conscious. Our sense of awareness is heightened & we have a positive feeling for the world and a renewed sense of dynamism.
• Don't eat before meditating. After a heavy meal your body will be lethargic. Having our stomach clear before meditation is important. Just like we don't eat before exercises, we do the same here.
• It is not necessary to mediate in the lotus posture. It is fine to meditate in a chair, as long as the back is straight.
• Taking a shower before meditation is quite helpful.
• Burning incenses and having candles are not necessary, but they can add a little extra inspiration.
• It is good to meditate early in the morning. It is said the best time is 3.00 am, although, I feel it is more important to be awake and not to be sleepy, I meditate at 6.30 am.

I meditate early in the morning for 10 to 15 minutes and chant "OM". I have found it to be extremely useful. It keeps me cool and composed with less stress. Because of this, I can say for certain I get only a few headaches a year. Before meditation, I used to get plenty of headaches throughout the year. It relieves many common aches. I also experience less occurrences of fevers and cold and also get less angry.
If you don't feel like chanting the word, you can meditate in silence, but "OM" is good and spiritual word, it creates an internal vibration in the body & helps to keep the cells in harmony.