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How Mindfulness Can Help You Conquer Exams

How Mindfulness Can Help You Conquer Exams

Mindfulness is essentially a state of pure focus and presence, where you have the ability to suppress wandering thoughts and fixate on one task at a time. 

This skill can be attained through practice and meditation, but recent studies have confirmed that mindfulness is an effective tool in preparing for exams. Students who practice mindful studying have higher concentration and ability to retain the information their brains are receiving. Here are a few ways that mindfulness can help you conquer exams!

1. Improves Mental Health
There have been clear links established between mindfulness and psychological wellbeing - especially reduced anxiety and depression. Mindfulness increases the ability to think positively and disregard negative feelings and emotions while focusing on a task. 

Meditation strategies shift the way neurological pathways function, allowing the individual practicing to access emotions separately, rather than being bombarded by multiple feelings at once. 

This ability to detach from feelings of anxiety can increase productivity and ensure you’re focusing on studying rather than stress. 

2. Boosts Memory and Focus
In a study comparing those who practiced mindfulness with those who had not, results proved that the mindful group had an easier, and more effective time focusing on singular tasks. 

Mindfulness actually stimulates multiple parts of the brain, allowing you to access a heightened ability to focus. It is proven that mindful meditation correlates directly with cognitive flexibility and attentional functioning (Moore and Malinowski, 2009). Moreover, it can boost your capacity to memorize and retain information, even in a stressful scenario. 

3. Supports Healthy Sleep Patterns
Not only is mindfulness an effective way to approach studying, it can also aid in promoting healthy sleep practices during exam season. Because stress levels are higher and the pressure to study is more present than ever, students may have a difficult time prioritizing sleep and actually falling asleep. 

However, mindful meditation and deep breathing can relax the body and allow it to slip into the REM cycle without added distraction and thought. Focusing on the way your body responds to the breathing relaxes the mind and allows you to get the rest you need and deserve. 

4. Increases Self Awareness
When you have a grasp on your emotions, you are able to understand the root of your stress and anxiety, along with your preparedness for your finals. Mindfulness can help you focus on your study patterns and realize what helps you be the most productive and present in your exam period. 

Being self aware also allows you to understand your weaknesses and build on your strengths in an empowered manner! 

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