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Study Skills
Managing anxiety and essays
Study Skills
Managing anxiety and essays
Study Skills
Managing anxiety and essays
Summary
Essays form an integral part of studying and can be a source of anxiety for many. They can carry significant weight towards grades, which brings pressure, and that can lead to anxiety.
Here are some strategies to help if you are struggling with this:
Change your perspective
Visualisation
Plan your time
Write freely
Reach out and relax
Summary
Essays form an integral part of studying and can be a source of anxiety for many. They can carry significant weight towards grades, which brings pressure, and that can lead to anxiety.
Here are some strategies to help if you are struggling with this:
Change your perspective
Visualisation
Plan your time
Write freely
Reach out and relax
Read this article
2.5m
Change your perspective
Shifting your focus can help reduce anxiety. Try to focus on the learning process and skills you are developing rather than the result. Every essay is an opportunity to gain knowledge and improve your skills.
Visualisation
Visualisation can be a powerful technique for enhancing performance and building confidence. Imagine yourself completing the essay successfully - this serves as a form of mental rehearsal, making the task feel more familiar and easier to execute in reality.
Plan your time
Planning and time management are effective ways to reduce anxiety around essays. Fear of the unknown can contribute to these anxious feelings, so getting started can help you feel more in control of the situation.
Try to jump in as soon as possible, breaking your essay down into manageable sections and setting small and achievable goals for each one. You can create a schedule allocating specific times for research, writing and editing and try to stick to it as closely as you can.
Write freely
Sometimes, it's not the subject of the essay that induces anxiety so much as the prospect of presenting your knowledge in a set way. Once you deconstruct your essay topic, it can be much easier to manage.
Start by writing down your ideas freely, not worrying about structure at this point. The aim is to get your thoughts flowing. You can refine these later on to create your essay structure, and some of your anxiety may start to ease as you see a plan take shape.
Reach out and relax
If you are struggling, remember you are not alone and there are resources available to you within your institution for additional support. Talk to your teacher or tutor if you are unclear about the task, while discussing your essay with friends can provide new insights and reduce feelings of isolation.
It’s also important to make time for relaxation. Simple breathing exercises, a short walk or time spent in nature can all help reduce stress levels and keep you calm.
Lastly, be kind to yourself. It’s okay to make mistakes—they're all part of the process.
Read this article
2.5m
Change your perspective
Shifting your focus can help reduce anxiety. Try to focus on the learning process and skills you are developing rather than the result. Every essay is an opportunity to gain knowledge and improve your skills.
Visualisation
Visualisation can be a powerful technique for enhancing performance and building confidence. Imagine yourself completing the essay successfully - this serves as a form of mental rehearsal, making the task feel more familiar and easier to execute in reality.
Plan your time
Planning and time management are effective ways to reduce anxiety around essays. Fear of the unknown can contribute to these anxious feelings, so getting started can help you feel more in control of the situation.
Try to jump in as soon as possible, breaking your essay down into manageable sections and setting small and achievable goals for each one. You can create a schedule allocating specific times for research, writing and editing and try to stick to it as closely as you can.
Write freely
Sometimes, it's not the subject of the essay that induces anxiety so much as the prospect of presenting your knowledge in a set way. Once you deconstruct your essay topic, it can be much easier to manage.
Start by writing down your ideas freely, not worrying about structure at this point. The aim is to get your thoughts flowing. You can refine these later on to create your essay structure, and some of your anxiety may start to ease as you see a plan take shape.
Reach out and relax
If you are struggling, remember you are not alone and there are resources available to you within your institution for additional support. Talk to your teacher or tutor if you are unclear about the task, while discussing your essay with friends can provide new insights and reduce feelings of isolation.
It’s also important to make time for relaxation. Simple breathing exercises, a short walk or time spent in nature can all help reduce stress levels and keep you calm.
Lastly, be kind to yourself. It’s okay to make mistakes—they're all part of the process.
Written by Natalie Bull
Written by Natalie Bull
0:00/1:34
Summary
Essays form an integral part of studying and can be a source of anxiety for many. They can carry significant weight towards grades, which brings pressure, and that can lead to anxiety.
Here are some strategies to help if you are struggling with this:
Change your perspective
Visualisation
Plan your time
Write freely
Reach out and relax
Read this article
Essays form an integral part of studying and can be a source of anxiety for many. They can carry significant weight towards grades, which brings pressure, and that can lead to anxiety.
Here are some strategies to help if you are struggling with this:
Change your perspective
Visualisation
Plan your time
Write freely
Reach out and relax
Change your perspective
Shifting your focus can help reduce anxiety. Try to focus on the learning process and skills you are developing rather than the result. Every essay is an opportunity to gain knowledge and improve your skills.
Visualisation
Visualisation can be a powerful technique for enhancing performance and building confidence. Imagine yourself completing the essay successfully - this serves as a form of mental rehearsal, making the task feel more familiar and easier to execute in reality.
Plan your time
Planning and time management are effective ways to reduce anxiety around essays. Fear of the unknown can contribute to these anxious feelings, so getting started can help you feel more in control of the situation.
Try to jump in as soon as possible, breaking your essay down into manageable sections and setting small and achievable goals for each one. You can create a schedule allocating specific times for research, writing and editing and try to stick to it as closely as you can.
Write freely
Sometimes, it's not the subject of the essay that induces anxiety so much as the prospect of presenting your knowledge in a set way. Once you deconstruct your essay topic, it can be much easier to manage.
Start by writing down your ideas freely, not worrying about structure at this point. The aim is to get your thoughts flowing. You can refine these later on to create your essay structure, and some of your anxiety may start to ease as you see a plan take shape.
Reach out and relax
If you are struggling, remember you are not alone and there are resources available to you within your institution for additional support. Talk to your teacher or tutor if you are unclear about the task, while discussing your essay with friends can provide new insights and reduce feelings of isolation.
It’s also important to make time for relaxation. Simple breathing exercises, a short walk or time spent in nature can all help reduce stress levels and keep you calm.
Lastly, be kind to yourself. It’s okay to make mistakes—they're all part of the process.
Written by Natalie Bull
Nat is Booost Education’s copywriter and artist-in-residence and brings considerable authenticity to our marketing content through her own expertise and experience from supporting DSA students and her neurodivergent son.
Written by Natalie Bull
Nat is Booost Education’s copywriter and artist-in-residence and brings considerable authenticity to our marketing content through her own expertise and experience from supporting DSA students and her neurodivergent son.