Pharmacy Daily | Managing study and exam pressure

PHARMACY Daily invited Mahak Jahangir from Bendigo UFS View Street Pharmacy in Victoria to provide an intern's perspective of pharmacy practice.

This week, she focuses on coping with stress around studying and exams.

Got an opinion or experience to share? Let us know in up to 400 words via email to info@pharmacydaily.com.au.

Exams are just around the corner, and many of us are worried about how to manage the pressure.

For myself, when stress hits, I get palpitations, and sometimes even need that extra dose of magnesium just to fall asleep.

I don't have all the answers, because different things work for different people.

For me, sometimes it's a quick call to my mum.

Other times, lacing up my shoes and going for a run helps me reset.

Don't ask me how my study is going - honestly, it's messy.

I've printed so much material I don't even know how I'll carry it all into the exam hall, let alone find answers in that mountain of paper.

My bedside table is crowded with coffee cups and tea mugs, the laundry pile is winning the battle, and the slightest noise at home pulls me off track.

Social media isn't helping either.

But if you're in the same boat, just breathe with me.

Focus on one thing at a time, and remember: just because it's an open-book exam, that doesn't mean you need to bring your whole library.

Keep it small and manageable so you don't get lost flipping through piles of paper.

Go through your extra notes once or twice beforehand, but on the day, carry only the essentials.

When the stress feels too heavy, find your release.

Put on some music, step outside, or do something fun that clears your head.

I went to a trampoline park with my kids, and believe it or not, it helped more than I expected.

So here's to all of us - trying, juggling, stressing, and still pushing forward.

Good luck with your exams - we'll get through this, one step at a time, and fingers crossed, we'll ace it together.