Exam season is here and it’s really important that you’re in the best of health right now, so boost your system by following these top exam health tips.

All this pressure in itself can cause stress – you may be losing sleep or getting in a bit of a panic. On top of this, if you’re a hayfever sufferer, now is the worst time for your symptoms to get in the way of concentrating on revision and studying, adding yet another annoyance to the list of things you could really do without at this time of year. So let’s have a look at some exam health tips and see how you can tackle the following problems:

Exam health tips for allergy sufferers

It is hard to be at your best when your nose is running, your eyes are streaming and you can’t stop sneezing. Each year, students can be seen traipsing into exam rooms carrying tissues, tablets and nasal sprays in an effort to battle the allergies. However, the choice is not simple – antihistamines can leave you feeling drowsy, but a head clouded with congestion and itching eyes are no great alternative either!

A good exam health tip is to try to be prepared. Start using antihistamines as soon as you can (like, right now), so you can build up some resistance to the allergens (make sure you check with your doctor first.) Meanwhile, keep an eye on the pollen count – the Met Office updates this daily on their website – so that you know which days are going to be particularly bad. Keep your windows closed and try to avoid the pollens as you head to your exam too.

Exam health tips for people who panic

Keeping a tab on your stress is important at exam time. You need to remain calm and focused. However, this is not as easy as it sounds when your body’s stress mechanisms are kicking in. The body is unable to tell the difference between physical stress (like being chased by an angry bear), or emotional stress (like exams), and tends to offer the same reactions. This includes faster breaths, struggling to think clearly, and a lack of focus.

Staying calm is one of the best exam health tips here, so reduce your stress levels by using some breathing techniques, such as counting up to 5 as you take each breath in and out. It can also help to reduce your stress by giving yourself a little confidence boost – answer the questions you can answer quickly and effectively first and also look for the ones with the most marks. Any harder questions can wait until later when you have built up your confidence in the exam itself.

Exam health tips for not feeling tired

Staying up all night before an exam either stressing out or trying to cram in some extra revision is likely to leave you feeling tired the next day. One of the best exam health tips here is to make sure you get enough sleep and try to stick to a healthy diet throughout your exams. Avoid drinking caffeine the night before an exam and try to stay away from your screens more than usual. Also don’t eat too late and maybe even get a little exercise on the evening before an exam. These will all help you have a more restful night’s sleep.

But, what if this doesn’t work and you don’t manage to get the rest you required?

You may feel the answer is to grab an energy drink or chug some strong coffee to give you a boost before the exam. While these can momentarily pick up your focus they won’t tell you things you don’t know, and you can have a crash as the effects wear off.

Rather than reaching for a stimulant to pick you up, make a healthy breakfast with lots of fruit, slow energy-release cereals and drink water to help you feel refreshed. When you get into the exam itself, chances are the adrenaline will keep you going anyway!