By Carys Scales
With results day just around the corner, it’s normal for anxiety to start creeping in. Summer holidays can mean there’s less stuff going on to distract you from your worries. And as the time gets closer to results day, family and friends talk about it too, which just makes your anxiety skyrocket. I used to have nightmares about it myself in the week leading up to the big day.
To help you get through it, I’ve put together my best tips for managing those results day worries (tried and tested).
- Journal your worries away.
- Spend time outside your room.
- Treat yourself.
- Watch YouTube videos about results day.
- Plan everything out.
- Talk to people.
1. Journal your worries away.
Get those feelings out! I still have all my journal entries from the weeks leading up to results day. It’s bittersweet to look back- something future you will probably experience too. Just let it all out in one big word rush and don’t worry about spelling or grammar– no one else will see this! Don’t stop writing until it’s all out. Writing your train-of-thought is a good way to let go of anxiety. It can also be a relief to think that in a few weeks, ‘future you’ will be reading that entry back knowing how it all went. After an exam, I like to think that ‘future me’ will roll her eyes at my worries because everything worked out.
2. Spend time outside your room.
Take advantage of the nice weather (so long as it’s not too hot!) and get some fresh air. Go on walks to the beach, or into town, see friends and just focus on making the most of your summer. Staying in your room can make your anxiety worse. If you can’t drown out your anxious thoughts– even when you’re lying on a beach, try listening to your favourite playlist or stick a podcast on.
3. Treat yourself.
Been eyeing that summer dress in the shop window? Dying to see Harry Styles in concert? Use the rest of your time before results day to treat yourself to something special. After all, you worked hard and sat all those exams. Giving yourself treats (big or small) is a way to remind yourself that whatever grades you get, you still matter.
4. Watch YouTube videos about results day.
Lots of YouTubers have shared their results day experiences in videos. Some of my friends find watching people open their results helpful. It shows them that while there can be disappointing news, it’s not as terrible and world-ending as they thought. And you’re not alone– others are going through this too. You can also watch people open their results and find happy news. You can imagine yourself in their place- so the videos become a kind of positive affirmation. If those videos are just piling on more anxiety, watch some puppies taking a nap instead. Their chill vibes are sure to rub off!
5. Plan everything out.
When I was stressed about results day, I had tunnel vision. I could only focus on the things I couldn’t control- like grades, or what I was going to do if I didn’t get into my first choice uni. But worrying about things that have already happened wasn’t helpful because they were out of my control. So I focused my energy on what I COULD control. I planned out parts of the day, like this:
- What time I would wake up on results day.
- What I was going to eat for breakfast.
- What I was going to wear to collect my results.
- How I was going to get there.
- Where I was going to open my results.
- What I was going to do after.
Putting these tiny details together helped me to feel more in control. It even helped take my mind off the results themselves!
6. Talk to people.
Your friends are probably in the same boat. Reach out to them and see how they feel. My friends and I had a bonfire a few days before results day. We actually burned some of our revision sheets as a way to relax and let go of stress. That being said, make sure you talk to the right people. If you know some of your friends will start panicking and make your anxiety worse, avoid bringing up your fears with them.
We all get worried when there’s a big event coming up. It can feel pretty scary not knowing how it’ll turn out. But remember– nothing has actually happened yet. You might even be pleasantly surprised. Good luck- you’ve got this!