How do you cope with stress during exam season?

Hey everyone,
With exam season in full swing, I wanted to start a thread to talk about how we all deal with stress, burnout, and feeling overwhelmed. Especially as a final year student, it's been such a tough time of year, and I know I'm not the only one struggling to stay focused and keep anxiety in check.
I know I’ve personally had moments where it feels like there’s too much to do and not enough time, and that can easily spiral into stress, anxiety, or just pure exhaustion. So I wanted to ask: How do you manage it? What helps you stay calm and grounded when everything feels like too much?
Do you have any go-to strategies, routines, or little habits that make a difference? Maybe it’s something simple like going for a walk, using a study planner, taking breaks, or even just venting to a friend.
Here are a few things I’ve been trying lately:
Using the Pomodoro Technique – 30 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. It stops me from cramming non-stop and helps my brain stay a bit more fresh.
Limiting screen time (especially social media) during revision hours — it’s so easy to get distracted or start comparing myself to others who seem to be “doing more.”
Getting outside at least once a day, even if it’s just for a 20 minute walk, I’ve come to realise it clears my head and gives me a proper break from the desk.
Sleep — I used to stay up late revising, but I’ve realised that being sleep-deprived just makes everything harder the next day.
Talking to someone — Even just messaging a friend to vent a bit really helps when I’m feeling overwhelmed. As an international student, my close hometown friends and I are scattered all over the globe - we’ve collectively decided to hop on a short call once a week to help keep each other sane. Having a trusted group of people to meet up with, or call regularly can ease lots of stress and anxiety without you even noticing.
Would love to hear what works for you – whether it’s a practical tip, a mindset shift, or just some encouragement. I've found tons more tips that have helped me here: https://bit.ly/4coFOBp
Danish
BCU Student Rep

Hey everyone,
With exam season in full swing, I wanted to start a thread to talk about how we all deal with stress, burnout, and feeling overwhelmed. Especially as a final year student, it's been such a tough time of year, and I know I'm not the only one struggling to stay focused and keep anxiety in check.
I know I’ve personally had moments where it feels like there’s too much to do and not enough time, and that can easily spiral into stress, anxiety, or just pure exhaustion. So I wanted to ask: How do you manage it? What helps you stay calm and grounded when everything feels like too much?
Do you have any go-to strategies, routines, or little habits that make a difference? Maybe it’s something simple like going for a walk, using a study planner, taking breaks, or even just venting to a friend.
Here are a few things I’ve been trying lately:
Using the Pomodoro Technique – 30 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. It stops me from cramming non-stop and helps my brain stay a bit more fresh.
Limiting screen time (especially social media) during revision hours — it’s so easy to get distracted or start comparing myself to others who seem to be “doing more.”
Getting outside at least once a day, even if it’s just for a 20 minute walk, I’ve come to realise it clears my head and gives me a proper break from the desk.
Sleep — I used to stay up late revising, but I’ve realised that being sleep-deprived just makes everything harder the next day.
Talking to someone — Even just messaging a friend to vent a bit really helps when I’m feeling overwhelmed. As an international student, my close hometown friends and I are scattered all over the globe - we’ve collectively decided to hop on a short call once a week to help keep each other sane. Having a trusted group of people to meet up with, or call regularly can ease lots of stress and anxiety without you even noticing.
Would love to hear what works for you – whether it’s a practical tip, a mindset shift, or just some encouragement. I've found tons more tips that have helped me here: https://bit.ly/4coFOBp
Danish
BCU Student Rep