Fan Your Flames: How To Avoid Getting Burned Out During Your Exam Preparation

Written By: Gershom Sage R. Rivero, RN, USRN

(Estimated reading time: 5 minutes)

There are times during our preparation phase for exams where we feel so demotivated because it seems that our scores aren’t improving. It’s like our efforts aren’t paying off, so we begin questioning ourselves if we still want to continue the journey or just quit.

This might be signs of burnout, let us first give meaning to what this term is. As defined by helguide.org “Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.” Yes, this a real condition that many people experience, especially those that are in the workplace. But it doesn’t only happen to people who are working, it can happen to anyone who is constantly exposed to stressors and for some reason, they fail to deliver what is expected of them.

People who will undergo an exam such as NCLEX and HAAD are not an exception. These people who are on exam preparation are also exposed to stress. Not just because they are reviewing doesn’t mean they aren’t vulnerable to experiencing burnout. The pressure of failing to meet expectations and wanting to pass the exam right away can all add up during your preparation phase. When you see that your scores during your practice tests aren’t that good it can also be a factor for demotivation.

But it doesn’t always have to end in getting burned out as long as you know how to manage your burdens well. Here are some thoughts to ponder:

1. Develop Your Own Study Pattern

   What we usually do is to follow some people’s advice on how to do your study habit. There is nothing wrong with this. However, it may or may not work well for everyone. We might find ourselves thinking that the review plan we follow is too stiff or too inadequate for our needs and that is not good. That is why we end up getting easily fed up and not absorbing everything effectively. It is very important to know what works best for you. Learn what is the best time to study for you, what kind of study habit suits your learning style. There is no one way in terms of learning, that is why we can be creative as much as possible in finding out ways to retain knowledge.

2. Incorporate Fun In Your Learning

   Who said that studying should be boring? We can add some element of fun in our learning styles in order for us to easily remember the concepts. A lot of examinees use acronyms, try to create songs, do drawings and the list of creativity goes on. There is no limitation for you to be creative as long as you feel that it will aid you in remembering & retaining knowledge then go for it.

3. Don’t Put Too Much Pressure On Yourself

   Sometimes it’s not really the difficulty of the concepts that get us, it is the pressure that gets the best of us. I do understand we need a little pressure for us to be pushed out of our comfort zones, but too much pressure can lead to getting exhausted and stressed out. We all want to ace our exam, but it doesn’t mean that we are a perfect human being and we can only do what our limitations allow us. Just do your best and remember that as long as you are doing your 100% effort then you should not fear whatever the outcome may be.

4. Take Breaks During Your Preparation

   We need to be serious in our preparation, yes, but who said we can’t have fun in between and after our review sessions? Go get yourself some rewards for finishing a set of practice exams or learning a new concept. Buy the food you are craving for, watch your favorite show, play on your gaming console, listen to your beloved soundtrack playlist, or go get sleep. There is no harm in taking much-needed breaks.

5. You Are Imperfect

   Yes, you read it right. As human beings, our nature does not allow us to be perfect. We aren’t machines that can do a perfect run. Always remember that at the end of the day, we are capable of making mistakes. Do not get frustrated if you are not getting a 100% score during your practice tests. It is normal. What matters most is that you continue to learn from those mistakes and retain. Also, do not fret if you cannot learn all possible topics for your exam –  that would be brain suicide. You aren’t a computer that can learn everything in a matter of months and even years. Just finish what you can and do your best during the exam day.

Burnout is a common occurrence but once it is not managed well, it may lead us having to experience its insidious effects. Always keep in mind that no path to victory is easy, there are ups and definitely downs. During those down moments, always think and ponder your reasons for partaking on this journey. You will only go stronger and upwards from the mistakes that you make during the preparation phase.

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes