Eat, Sleep, Study, Repeat

Oftentimes when we are approaching exams our lives fall into a cycle of four steps: Eat, Sleep, Study, Repeat.

Eat: 
Food is essentially to our wellbeing both physical and mental. Before and during exams we burn a lot of energy and need to ensure that we are eating well.
The BBC Goodfood page has some excellent tips on eating for exam success:

Eating and Exams

Sleep:
Sleep is essential. When we sleep our brains file away all the information that we've absorbed during the day. However, as exams approach and stress levels inevitably begin to rise, the duration and quality of sleep can fall. We need between 8 and 9 hours a night to allow of body and mind refresh itself. Good sleep hygiene is all important.

This excellent presentation take us through the value and importance of good sleep and rest periods as we prepare for exams:

Take Time Out: Sleep & Rest Guide

Study:
Eating and sleeping alone won't help us get the exam results we want, we also need to study. Each of us have our own way of approaching exams and study, some of us prepare well in advance and some of us cram right up to the moment the exam hall door opens. Whatever we do, it's important that we do it. Study is most effective when we break it up into smaller chunks. Like our muscles, our brain needs space and time to recover when it has been exercised. Take breathers, get some air, stand up away from your desk, walk around, talk to someone and then get back to it.

Repeat: 
Repeat is not a word we like to associate with exams or exam preparation. However, that is exactly what we do everyday as we prepare for the exam, we repeat our good lifestyle and study behaviours. We take time for study, take time to take a breath when we need it (7 / 11 breathing fires off our soothing system claiming our minds), we take time to eat, to sleep and to keep hydrated. We take some time to keep connected with our friends. We take time with our pets, they're often the best stress busters. This is the kind of repeating I'm talking about. The repetition of positive and healthy approaches to study that can and do make the difference.

Remember to stay positive. We can give ourselves a hard time when it comes to exams and convince ourselves that we're not capable. This isn't true. You are capable. When we study our minds can easily become overloaded as we try to process and hold on to all the information we're taking in, this is natural. If, and when, this happens your brain is telling you that you need to allow it some time to rest.

Rescue breaths:
Feelings of acute (sudden) anxiety and panic result from the stimulation of our threat system in our brain. The good news is that our brain has the perfect mechanism to deal with this; the soothing system. The soothing system is launched into action by our breath, or by music, or by nature or by any healthy and positive thing that brings us a sense of security and comfort. It doesn't take much to get it going.

The practice of 7 / 11 breathing (breathing in for a count of 7 and out for a count of 11) works as an emergency leaver if we suddenly feel a wall of pressure, or stress or panic. If we do:

STOP what you are doing
GROUND  your feet on the floor
IN breath for 7 counts
OUT breath for 11 counts
REPEAT this until you feel calm.