It’s a lot of stress, but I will try to stay positive as Leaving Cert approaches

HAVING sat the Leaving Certificate in 1999, there are two things I recall from my experience. Sitting in the back row of a dusty exam hall, and panicking whilst I watched waves of bobbleheads bent over their exam scripts.



Make out a plan and manage your time effectively taking regular breaks. Teachers, if asked, are very good about providing guidance for specific subject revision plans.
Stay healthy by eating well, exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, and make sure you get enough sleep.
Chill out and use relaxation techniques which are available on the internet. Personally, I feel mindfulness is great and if you research mindful body scans they are effective and quick and easy to use.
Visualise success. Rhonda Byrnes proposes this in his books The Secret and The Power and yes, this PMA (positive mental attitude) does work.
If you find yourself getting very stressed, ask your career guidance counsellor can you speak to him/her. They are trained in listening skills and if the problem is more serious, consider talking to a psychologist or counsellor.
Practice the papers over and over again, this is the best method for study after Easter. This applies especially in Maths and languages. You will see patterns emerging in the papers.
Do not rely solely on hints or becoming obsessed with boards, i.e. for predictions. Be well prepared by having some options depending on the kinds of questions that come up.
Use your downtime effectively to switch off by watching a film, or increasing your exercise routine. Avoid phones and computers all the time.
Useful Apps such as Headspace, Dayleo and Moodkit, all will help to keep your thought process positive.