Many parents find the period between preliminary and final exams in education to be the second most costly time of the year. Large amounts of money are often spent due to stress or worry, even though cost-effective methods exist that are widely overlooked. Highly advantageous but often insufficiently advertised educational approaches are readily available. What is even more worrying is the persisting acceptance of extremely harmful strategies. The results of preliminaries provide a clear idea of what tasks are yet to come. For students in the middle of their academic journey, it’s time to gear up for the last few weeks of the academic year. However, for those about to finish their schooling journey, they are heading into their last weeks of school ever.
The months leading up to the final examinations for students become exceedingly occupied, causing the stress levels to surge. This is when students really need guidance and support from their parents and teachers. Teachers, equally affected by the stress of preliminary exam results, may also succumb to dread. As everyone tries to bring out their best, unforeseen conflicts may erupt. There is often an unexpected wave of blame in classrooms. Where camaraderie may have previously thrived for most of the time in school, it dawns that there is a steep cost associated with such a laid back approach.
The tension surrounding the final examinations is practically unavoidable. But this stress can often act as a catalyst, driving us towards better productivity and achievement. Some can accommodate this pressure comfortably. For those who struggle with it, the efficient strategies mentioned above can provide solace.
Sleep, a common necessity, is a crucial need for everyone, from the youngest student entering school to the staff member nearing their retirement. The significance of sleep to all who spend their days in educational settings is immense. Many lose sleep due to school-related issues, a topic that isn’t discussed openly enough.
A phone can be distracting while paradoxically also enabling us to concentrate, which can both earn praise and raise concerns. The end aim is not only to sleep but to achieve regular, high-quality, rejuvenating sleep. This requires serious commitment but reaps multi-fold benefits, positively impacting other key areas of our lives.
It’s clear that health is a vital aspect of our life, and there is a need for us to take a moment to be grateful for the lack of issues we experience. “Wellness is a crown donned by healthy individuals, only visible to those in ill-health”. The question is, do we frequently stop and reflect on how fortunate we are to be able to not only go to school but also voice out our concerns about exam pressure? Several people covet these opportunities we often take for granted. Placing a high value on our health is effective in and of itself, and the advantages of expressing gratitude are widespread and supported by evidence.
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Being in school, studying and taking exams necessitate that we stay focused and maintain our concentration. Anything that allows for these requirements paves the way for prolific learning and productive evaluation. Equally important is the fact that conduct and habits that impede our performance should be minimalised. Failing to control detrimental behaviours inadvertently cultivates it, which can result in a rapid downward spiral. The current rise in phone usage provides abundant proof of this phenomenon.
The ability of smartphones to both seize and augment our concentration levels is laudable yet unsettling. Our phones have stripped us of our ability to concentrate on anything apart from themselves. These devices have managed to monopolise our focus, and we have permitted this by succumbing to their allure.
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It’s been several years since we learned that prominent tech figures like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs set an example by restricting their own children’s use of phones. Gates didn’t let his children have phones until they were fourteen, whereas according to an annual survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions, the typical age at which Irish children obtain their first handset is 10.7 years. Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple until his death in 2011, confessed that he didn’t let his offspring operate Apple’s new gadgets upon their launch. A parenting principle in their household was to restrict their children’s tech accessibility.
Mastering the skill of regulated breathing can serve as a significant ally during life’s highly stressful moments.
The ability to inhale deeply is a cost-free asset we carry with us always, yet, a large number of us are unaware of how to utilise it efficiently. It’s a potent tool we can activate to soothe ourselves. Considering that it’s challenging to discover a meditation or relaxation method that doesn’t entail some form of breathwork, it appears to be the base commonality in soothing techniques. If you question the significance of taking a mere breath, consider what occurs when circumstances aren’t as we anticipate them to be.
We might involuntarily refrain from breathing when under stress, or experience a panic attack as a result of excessively swift breathing. Regulated breathing, which is an ability that needs practice, can become a strong supporter during life’s most testing times. Formal exams, which provide a chance to practice breathwork, are among these challenges for numerous Irish adolescents. Adopting this practice early in life allows one to reap the benefits for a longer span.
Focusing less on our phones and more on appreciating and preserving our health is a brilliant beginning. Stepping it up involves making a resolute effort to cultivate conscious breathing methods and obtain quality sleep. The culmination is signalled by the enhancement in study quality. Support from home doesn’t have to drain finances.
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