Have you ever felt stressed about attending class? Have you been anxious or even panicked about an upcoming test?

Most students are at one time or another, and having some stress is actually good. If you are too anxious, however, the results are negative.

Learning should be empowering - not defeating. Yet, learning anxiety is very real and more common than most people admit.

Thanks, Ron! Is there any good news?

Yes. There are practical ways to calm yourself, increase confidence, and discover the true joy of learning.

Recognize that anxiety is normal – perfection is not.

As mentioned above, some anxiety is good. Feeling anxious is not a sign of weakness. It means you care about your education and personal growth. If you are not being challenged, you aren’t learning! Acknowledging that these anxious feelings are natural can reduce their power over you.

Sometimes students expect to understand everything immediately. They expect a perfect grade every tie. Small mistakes become grave failures in their minds. These unrealistic expectations fuel anxiety. Instead, focus on the material and your progress – not perfection. Mistakes help us learn. Working our way back out of a wrong turn or misunderstanding strengthens our learning abilities.

By the way – perfection does not exist!

Break tasks into steps.

Large assignments or a large number of questions can spark panic and spike anxiety. Take one step at a time.

Breaking tasks into smaller, more specific goals can reduce the fear factor.

• Read one chapter
• Summarize key points
• Practise five sample math questions

As you complete each step and check it off your “to-do” list, you create a sense of progress and begin to calm into a rhythm.

Create a calm study space.

Study environment make a big difference. Create an uncluttered space with few distractions. You can include elements that you find soothing such as plants, comfortable lighting, or a relaxing picture/poster.

Check out this video from several years ago about the Learning Space.

Take breaks

Too often students think they need to study non-stop for hours on end. They think all-nighters are a good idea. They are not correct.

Set a schedule. Study for 25 or 30 minutes, take a 5 minute break, and then resume studying if you aren’t finished your planned time or project. (This is an example. Time frame will differ for individuals.)

During the break, stretch, walk around, practise deep-breathing, or step outside for some fresh air. Brief moments of refreshment make a massive difference. Like a rest or reboot, breaks will keep stress from overwhelming you.

Seek support

If you are still having some issues, talk to a fellow student, a teacher, tutor, or counselor. Often, simply voicing your concerns aloud brings relief. A good listener need not have academic knowledge of your field of study, as long as they are a good listener.

Remember the purpose

During times of stress, you can lose sight of the bigger picture. Remind yourself of the purpose. Why did you take this course of study? What next step will it help you achieve/

What is the ultimate goal?

These could be academic or job goals but personal growth goals are just as valuable. Sometimes we just need to sit back and remind ourselves of all the benefits to come.

Finally

Ironically, learning that anxiety is not your enemy can reduce the anxiety you’re feeling. Acknowledging it and meaningfully addressing it makes anxiety another tool in your repertoire!

Remember, you are your own best teacher – use all the tools available to assist you. Caring about your learning and the related anxiety is a feature not a bug.

Learning to learn is one of the most valuable skills of all.

Teach Myself? Teach Myself! (Free with kindle unlimited)

Call or e-mail to set up a free information meeting.

tutoringcentral@inbox.com