Leaving Cert Stress - Advice?

TrafficLights

Jesus lads I have the utmost respect for every single person who made it through this year! Over the last few weeks I feel like the pressure has really come on and I've no idea how to cope with it. I've always been someone who works hard and does reasonably well but there literally doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done?!

Anyway this wasn't meant to be just a rant but an appeal for a any tips at all on coping with the workload (or even to be honest the sheer stress and pressure of the year!)

I'm new here and not sure is there already a thread for this somewhere else so apologies if I should be posting somewhere else!

Take Your Pants Off

What I will say to you is, I was in the same boat as you, still am, but all I can share my experience.
In relation to no time, I used to think that all the time, untill I came across this:
""There are 86,400 seconds in a day. It's up to you to decide what to do with them"
IF THERES NO TIME, YOU GOT TO MAKE TIME.
If it means studying while eating, studying on the way to school, back from school. In the car. Wherever you find yourself free at any moment pick up ur book and go at it.

Its only 1 year, 1 year of your whole life, CORRECTION 12 years, the minute you walked into primary school to now in 6th year was all leading to this. Are you willing to throw away 12 years, just like that?! NO.
-My mom

I am following this from now on, it works for me most times, lol but then theres some days I just slack off, but then I recall this. Gets me back going.

Kind of crappy statement I made out, but I thought id share my view and personal experience.

EoghanIRL

And to be honest 12 years is only the start of it if you plan on going to college.
Best learn to deal with stress now.
Exercise
Drink lots of water
Have a hobby

DublinArnie

Fellow sixth year here.

Doing activities not related to school (reading, walking, running, exercise etc) really help.

Exercise is proven to be a great aid in dealing with stress and depression.

AlfaJack

Exercise in the fresh air is definitely what got my through leaving cert tbh

myshirt

How do you eat an elephant?
I'll tell you how...

In small chunks. Small manageable chunks. Bit by bit. And by taking rests in between.

Some key tips:
1. Do up a study plan. A realistic study plan, i.e one you will stick to.
2. Stick to the study plan, absolutely no excuses. Stick to it. If you do have to steal an hour, then pay back that hour but you can't end the week not having completed the study plan.
3. Exercise; spend time with friends; mega important
4. Have goals for the study plan - do not write down 'Study Maths' - write down 'do 2 questions from 2014 paper'
5. Do it bit by bit. No man wrote a book all in one go. He wrote it paragraph by paragraph.
6. Remember, it is up to you to drive your learning. Seriously do your best. If your best is 200 points, that is ok, but if your best is 540, don't end the year having got less. Do your best, and do not be ashamed of that. You will know your own best; have confidence in yourself.
7. Speak with your guidance counsellor. You are an adult now soon, so you have to take ownership.

Above, all, put it into perspective and remember this is not the end of the world. You will get there.

20rosie16

TrafficLights wrote: »

Jesus lads I have the utmost respect for every single person who made it through this year! Over the last few weeks I feel like the pressure has really come on and I've no idea how to cope with it. I've always been someone who works hard and does reasonably well but there literally doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done?!

Anyway this wasn't meant to be just a rant but an appeal for a any tips at all on coping with the workload (or even to be honest the sheer stress and pressure of the year!)

I'm new here and not sure is there already a thread for this somewhere else so apologies if I should be posting somewhere else!

You're not the only one I feel like I'm drowning in the Atlantic Ocean and I can see sharks in the distance coming to give me a violent death

Consonata

20rosie16 wrote: »

You're not the only one I feel like I'm drowning in the Atlantic Ocean and I can see sharks in the distance coming to give me a violent death

Beautiful metaphor :')

Trying to keep all the balls in the air can be quite a challenge. I'm doing alot of extra-curricular activities that eat into my study time, yet somehow, miraculously though it may be, I am still keeping my head just above water for Medicine. Study plan is a great idea for people who have plenty of evening time to divide up. I had a weekly study plan but now slowly, I am moving towards the "Tackle X amount of things in Y Subject" in a week.

Set small, achievable goals. The worst thing that you can EVER do in my opinion, is set a goal that you cannot reach. There is the enevitable failure, and then the mini depression that follows. Setting small goals that are quite within your reach not only makes sense in the short term, but dramatically increases your positive outlook on how things are going for you, subsequently making you much more productive.

Another tip that I have learned is caffiene isn't always the answer. If you knew me, you would know that I have seemingly permanent bags under my eyes. This isn't a healthy lifestyle obviously. So if it is within your power to do the required work as soon as you get home, take that oppertunity as if its a gold bar. Sleep is one of the most valuable commodities I've learned this year. Not sleeping because of study or homework negatively impacts your ability to retain information the following day. Sure, you studied up on X topic in Biology, but now its 2am and you are going to feel like a piece of garbage at 8am before school. Really, get that study done early and relax by reading a book or doing some of those adult colouring book excercises or whatever cools down your brain.

Lastly, cannot understate how important reading is, especially for English. No. 1, it is great for relaxation and taking your mind off the LC, and No. 2, it keeps your vocab fresh and vibrant. Ive never been a great fan of these vocabulary apps. Its much much better to actually read real books because you get to contextualise words and give you ideas for short stories and personal essays that you might like to write.

Hopefully some of this might be of some use to you. Good Luck!

Westeros

First of all, step back, take a deep breath and go for a walk. Clear your head for a few minutes.
I know it's hard and it seems easy for everyone not involved to say, but just relax. You will get there.

Study works best where there's regular breaks. 5 hours of straight study will not be as beneficial to you as 2 hours of study with a half hour break in between.
If your school offers after school study I would suggest going to it. It's a great way to jump into study before ever heading home. I know from myself that once you get home after school it's hard to get stuck in straight away. This way, once you get home you already have about 2 hours of study under your belt.
Exercise! Do something that is not related to school for at least one hour every day. This is extremely important, and it will be of major benefit to you!
I found the best way to study was to do the past exam paper q's, ask your teacher to have a look at them and where suitable, learn those as a sample answer.
Try not to worry. If you've been going to school, participating in class and doing your homework you're already about half way there.
Pace yourself. You have 6 months until the LC begins, it will come and it will go. Set your study plan now and you will get there.

I was once in your shoes. I worked hard and always did well but once Christmas came I panicked and realised the LC was just around the corner. But I got there, and surprised myself in the end. Now here I am in my last year of college. This year has the potential to be one of the best years of your life. Make sure you enjoy it while fitting in the study.

Best of luck!

20rosie16

Consonata wrote: »

Beautiful metaphor :')

Trying to keep all the balls in the air can be quite a challenge. I'm doing alot of extra-curricular activities that eat into my study time, yet somehow, miraculously though it may be, I am still keeping my head just above water for Medicine. Study plan is a great idea for people who have plenty of evening time to divide up. I had a weekly study plan but now slowly, I am moving towards the "Tackle X amount of things in Y Subject" in a week.

Set small, achievable goals. The worst thing that you can EVER do in my opinion, is set a goal that you cannot reach. There is the enevitable failure, and then the mini depression that follows. Setting small goals that are quite within your reach not only makes sense in the short term, but dramatically increases your positive outlook on how things are going for you, subsequently making you much more productive.

Another tip that I have learned is caffiene isn't always the answer. If you knew me, you would know that I have seemingly permanent bags under my eyes. This isn't a healthy lifestyle obviously. So if it is within your power to do the required work as soon as you get home, take that oppertunity as if its a gold bar. Sleep is one of the most valuable commodities I've learned this year. Not sleeping because of study or homework negatively impacts your ability to retain information the following day. Sure, you studied up on X topic in Biology, but now its 2am and you are going to feel like a piece of garbage at 8am before school. Really, get that study done early and relax by reading a book or doing some of those adult colouring book excercises or whatever cools down your brain.

Lastly, cannot understate how important reading is, especially for English. No. 1, it is great for relaxation and taking your mind off the LC, and No. 2, it keeps your vocab fresh and vibrant. Ive never been a great fan of these vocabulary apps. Its much much better to actually read real books because you get to contextualise words and give you ideas for short stories and personal essays that you might like to write.

Hopefully some of this might be of some use to you. Good Luck!

Why thank you...
hmm that is some tasty advice, I might kinda just maybe make a study plan for myself. Good luck to you too kind fellow

Rosalind151

I was dying with LC stress until recently, but what keeps me going in that I know there are lot of us in the same boat.