These mindfulness techniques will help your youngster manage exam stress  

It is no secret that the exam season can be quite a stressful time for students. This can have a significant impact on their mental health and well-being. In such situations, it is easy to overlook the fact that no amount of hours spent studying will be of help if youngsters are not mindful and calm. Research has proven time and time again that mindfulness helps students with their concentration, focus and memory while taking exams. With board exams around the corner, here are a few useful mindfulness techniques your youngster can practise to stay focussed. 

Motivate him to do simple meditation 
Meditation does not always have to be time consuming. Even 5-10 minutes of mindful, deep breathing before tackling the syllabus or taking an exam goes a long way in calming nerves and jitters and sharpening focus. If your teen finds it challenging to meditate for a given period of time, following guided meditations on YouTube is a great option. 

Encourage her to get creative 
Focussing on studies 24/7 during the exam season can put a lot of pressure on your teen and can significantly hinder her performance. Taking a few quick breaks here and there to get creative is a great way to recharge the brain. Encourage her to practise small creative tasks- especially those which she enjoys. This could be journaling, painting or even solving puzzles. 

Introduce him to the Five Senses Drills 
This is a simple and highly effective technique to improve mindfulness. Essentially, the Five Senses Drill is a three-minute breathing exercise. Using this will help your teen to restore balance, focus and remain calm. For this, ask him to take two long breaths and note five things: 1) what he sees, 2) what he hears, 3) what he feels, 4) what he smells, and 5) what he tastes in the current moment. The exercise is finished with another two deep inhales and exhales. 

Remind her to step outdoors 
As simple as it seems, spending time in nature is an extremely useful mindfulness technique. Exposure to nature has been linked to improved attention and concentration, lower stress, better mood and more clarity of thought. Remind your teen to take occasional breaks from her studies and go out for a stroll. Movement has a significant impact on one’s mental health as well, so participating in light sports-related activities is also a great option.