Beat GCSE Anxiety with Positivity: Positive self-talk
Are you worrying about upcoming GCSE exams and feeling overwhelmed? It’s important to keep your motivation up and stay positive. To get the best results you need to believe in yourself. In this blog post, we’ll explore how staying positive and a bit of self-belief can give you the edge during exam time!
Positive self-talk
Positive self-talk is any kind of communication you have with yourself – either internally or externally – that reinforces positivity and builds your confidence. It involves reframing our thoughts by focusing on what we’re doing well instead of worrying about mistakes or failures. By practising positive self-talk, you will be able to keep your motivation up during your revision and better manage stress levels.
How Can Positive Self Talk Help Your Exam Preparation?
There is no doubt that a positive mindset boosts productivity. During this period of intense revision you are responsible for your progress. It may sound odd, but by talking and thinking about yourself in a positive way will help keep you motivated.
It may not be something you’ve tried before, and it may feel very strange when you first start, but positive thinking encourages productivity, which means you’re more likely to power through your work than procrastinate. It will also boost your self-confidence and bring with it a sense of calmness which will boost your productivity even more, keeping a little wheel of positive productivity going.
Here are some simple tips that can help develop a healthier attitude towards studying:
1) Acknowledge effort
It is just as important to recognise the effort you are putting in to revising as well as the results you are achieving, this is particularly true for topics you find challenging. Putting one step in front of the other just to keep going and push on is sometimes just as important. It is building up stamina and resilience like this that will make things much easier further down the line.
2) Be kind to yourself
Challenge the way you think about things and always try to put on a positive spin. Replace self-criticism (for example ‘I am rubbish at maths’) with something more positive (‘I may find maths tricky but I am determined to do my best’). This will fundamentally change the way in which you approach tasks, with an open mindset and make things much easier.
3) Celebrate successes
Take pride in every achievement no matter how small; celebrate each milestone like passing mock papers or completing areas within topics.
4) Visualise success
Spend some time visualising scenarios where you succeed such as going into exams feeling confident having revised all areas thoroughly. This technique helps to instil the belief that anything is possible.
5) Prioritise rest & relaxation
Revision can be relentless. When you put together your revision timetable make sure to build in plenty of time for breaks every day. Working in short sharp bursts is much more productive than toiling away for hours without a change to recharge your batteries. At the end of each day, build in some rewarding activities, like watching movies, catching up with friends or a long hot soak in the bath.
6) Stay connected
It’s common to start feeling isolated during periods of intense revision. So it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Talk to those around you. Your family will be keen to help in any way they can so let them. Whether that means acting as a sounding board for issues you’re having or providing you with regular drinks and snacks, use them.
Similarly, reach out to your friends on a regular basis. They are likely going through the same things you are, and may even be struggling with the same issues. Share thoughts and ideas with them, as a problem shared is a problem halved.
Staying motivated during exam preparation isn’t easy but it’s not impossible! Utilising techniques such as those listed will help you keep moving forward and face those exams in a positive and confident way.
No matter how difficult something may seem, if you approach it with an open mind and a positive outlook, anything is possible! So, make sure that you talk positively about yourself before, during and after each exam – this will give you more confidence so that you can get some perspective and be better prepared for success in your exams!
FAQ’s
Q. What is positive self-talk?
Positive self-talk is the practice of talking to yourself in a positive, encouraging and supportive way, such as repeating affirmations or motivating phrases. It can help to boost your confidence and create a more optimistic outlook which can be helpful in preparing for GCSE exams.
Q. How can I use positive self-talk for exam motivation?
Positive self-talk can be used as part of an overall strategy for motivating yourself and staying focussed. You could start by writing down some empowering statements about yourself (e.g., “I am capable”) and repeating them to yourself several times each day whenever you feel like you need that extra push of motivation or encouragement during study sessions or exams themselves!
Q. Is it really possible to improve my performance with just positive thoughts?
A Yes! Studies have shown that there are measurable benefits associated with regular practice of positive thinking techniques like positive self-talk– including improved performance on tests, better concentration skills and increased levels of resilience when confronted with challenging tasks.
Q. Are there any risks associated with using too much positive thinking?
Generally speaking, no – but it’s important to remain aware not just of the power of our own thoughts but also the impact they have on our emotions and behaviours so we don’t get carried away into unrealistic expectations or goals that might be hard (or even impossible!). That said, when used correctly – focusing only on realistic ambitions within reach -positive thinking has been found very beneficial both academically and personally!
Q. What other strategies should I consider using alongside relying solely upon positive thinking alone while preparing myself mentally ahead of my upcoming GCSEs ?
Take breaks; get plenty of rest; eat well; exercise regularly; manage stress levels by making sure you take time to relax and re=energise. Set realistic goals based around what’s actually achievable now rather than aiming too high which may end up leading towards unnecessary disappointment later down the line if those targets aren’t met come exam time… Good luck!!
Interesting Info:
- Research has shown that positive self-talk can increase exam performance by up to 25%.
- Studies have found that even when individuals don’t believe what they’re telling themselves, engaging in positive self-talk still helps to reduce stress and improve overall mood during exams. Positive self-talk can also help students stay focused on the task at hand and boost their confidence levels prior to taking an exam or completing a difficult assignment.”
