Stress and burning out
I have been working very hard for the past weeks and 2 days ago just broke down crying and haven't been the same since
I am feeling so overwhelmed about my GCSEs and feel like everyone is so much more calm and prepared while I am literally breaking down every 30 seconds
Any advice?
I am feeling so overwhelmed about my GCSEs and feel like everyone is so much more calm and prepared while I am literally breaking down every 30 seconds
Any advice?
Reply 1
Try looking at your situation more logically if you can, your emotions (whilst very understandable and valid) can often make things seem a lot more complicated than they really are.
Take a breath and then think about what you would tell a friend in the same position.
You wouldn’t tell them things like theyre going to fail or that exams are going to be scary. Instead try and think what advice you would give them to help them calm down and see the situation in a more grounded way.
I would suggest making a revision plan that is sustainable so you dont run into this situation where youre working for a few days at the optimum and then crashing out and feeling rubbish. Instead space your revision over the week in smaller sessions.
Make a plan of something nice youll do once exams are over!
I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well during year 11 but as exams approached i found it helpful to write down exactly what i actually needed to get as my grades. For me, this meant I knew i would be fine on results day provided i got what i needed for sixth form. People assign a lot of their self worth to their grades but they’re really not as important as a lot of people make out, you need the grades to go to sixth form/college as a minimum and anything above that is great 🙂 Obviously still aim high but try to ease the pressure, you dont need to get all 8s and 9s to have a good life.
Take a breath and then think about what you would tell a friend in the same position.
You wouldn’t tell them things like theyre going to fail or that exams are going to be scary. Instead try and think what advice you would give them to help them calm down and see the situation in a more grounded way.
I would suggest making a revision plan that is sustainable so you dont run into this situation where youre working for a few days at the optimum and then crashing out and feeling rubbish. Instead space your revision over the week in smaller sessions.
Make a plan of something nice youll do once exams are over!
I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well during year 11 but as exams approached i found it helpful to write down exactly what i actually needed to get as my grades. For me, this meant I knew i would be fine on results day provided i got what i needed for sixth form. People assign a lot of their self worth to their grades but they’re really not as important as a lot of people make out, you need the grades to go to sixth form/college as a minimum and anything above that is great 🙂 Obviously still aim high but try to ease the pressure, you dont need to get all 8s and 9s to have a good life.
Reply 2
One tip is separate your work space from your relaxing space. So if you relax mostly in your room, then don't work there. Work outside/in the kitchen etc. This helps mentally separate your work (stress) from relaxation, therefore you can properly relax, allowing you to be charged for when you next study. Comparing yourself to others will really damage you. I know it's hard, but try not to do it. Everyone reacts differently to stress/exams, and whilst they may seem calm they might not be (or just not studying). Only compare yourself to yourself. Another tip is to find pride in your work, reflect on the goods things that you have achieved. This will help you to recognise that you actually have achieved a lot, and will help you gain confidence back.
Reply 3
Original post
by anonymous2229I have been working very hard for the past weeks and 2 days ago just broke down crying and haven't been the same since
I am feeling so overwhelmed about my GCSEs and feel like everyone is so much more calm and prepared while I am literally breaking down every 30 seconds
Any advice?
I am feeling so overwhelmed about my GCSEs and feel like everyone is so much more calm and prepared while I am literally breaking down every 30 seconds
Any advice?
Hi @anonymous2229,
I'm really sorry to hear you've been feeling overwhelmed with your GCSEs. Exam season is a stressful time and even though people might seem calm and prepared on the surface, I assure you many students are feeling similar to you.
Although ongoing GCSE revision is a good idea, it's really important to take breaks when you feel like you might need them. If you've been working hard over the past few weeks and don't feel great, consider taking a few days off from revision either to pursue one of your hobbies or to just relax and catch up on some sleep.
I wasn't a strong Maths student at school, so leading up to my GCSE Maths exam I felt incredibly nervous. I knew on a practical level I had done all the revision I possibly could, but I still felt like I hadn't done enough. To calm myself down the day before the exam, I played video games for two to three hours. I could have revised during that time, but I knew I would have gone into that exam hall feeling overwhelmed. Giving myself a break let me approach the exam much more rationally, and I achieved a much higher grade than I expected.
Best of luck and hope you feel better soon,
Eve (Kingston Rep).
Hello there!
First of all, please know you are not alone!
A lot of people feel exactly like you, even if they don’t show it. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed when you have been working so hard for so long. It just means you care. But it doesn’t mean you are failing.
Sometimes when you push yourself too much without proper breaks, your mind and body force you to slow down.
Try to be kinder to yourself, even short rest breaks such as a 10-minute walk, or breathing exercises, can help reset your mind. Focus on small steps instead of everything at once, one topic, one page, one hour at a time.
Everyone's journey looks different, and comparing yourself to others will only add more stress.
You are doing better than you think, and you will get through this!
I hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador
First of all, please know you are not alone!
A lot of people feel exactly like you, even if they don’t show it. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed when you have been working so hard for so long. It just means you care. But it doesn’t mean you are failing.
Sometimes when you push yourself too much without proper breaks, your mind and body force you to slow down.
Try to be kinder to yourself, even short rest breaks such as a 10-minute walk, or breathing exercises, can help reset your mind. Focus on small steps instead of everything at once, one topic, one page, one hour at a time.
Everyone's journey looks different, and comparing yourself to others will only add more stress.
You are doing better than you think, and you will get through this!
I hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador
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