Page 23 - Dainfern Precinct Living 9 2020

TODAY'S CHILD

We've all had that day where we wake up to our alarm, thinking about
how we would rather be doing anything other than face a day of studying
and exams. People experience negative thoughts every day, whether

consciously or subconsciously. When we entertain those negative thoughts,
we unknowingly sentence ourselves to creating a negative narrative that
can be carried into the exam context and into the future.

o how do you rein in and retrain . . . but today, it is deafening. Negative day’s studying, lack of concentration or a
your thoughts to make significant emotions can hurt your motivation to bad exam:
Simprovements to your exam time? perform because you just do not feel good Am I being fair on myself right now?
or you start believing you just cannot do it. Am I blowing this out of proportion?
MINDSET For example, you sit frozen with the exam Am I helping or hurting myself by thinking
A positive mindset is arguably one of the paper in front of you and you go completely this way?
most important tools to develop. Your blank.
mindset ultimately determines your results, • Psychology literature tells us to reframe
whether while studying or in the exam itself. Negative emotions are tricky because, at these thoughts and visualise a better
The learners who stay positive in exams first, they can boost performance due to outcome when faced with doubt and
are setting themselves up for success. a rise in intensity. But this is short-lived. If fear. Instead of feeding into and voicing
Positive learners are ready for anything that not properly dealt with, they will begin to negative thoughts by complaining, learn
is thrown at them, whether their pen runs cause more damage, as they slowly wear how to control your reactions by finding a
out of ink, their girlfriend or their boyfriend away at your core belief that you can do more constructive way of interpreting your
just broke up with them or they are writing the task at hand. A negative mindset tells situation. Reframing causes you to shift
their favourite and easiest subject. From you that you are a failure, and failure is your focus from factors that you cannot
psychology, we know that a positive belief unacceptable. When you are overwhelmed control to those you can.
in oneself and the outcome is what makes by these thoughts, you will experience
the biggest difference to performance. an onslaught of emotions including fear, • Visualisation is a powerful tool with
Attitude and belief about what one can frustration, anger and helplessness. cognitive reframing. Visualisation and
accomplish are essential elements when Focusing your energy on the task at hand positive self-talk are a form of relaxation.
it comes to achieving anything. A positive becomes impossible and that in turn steals When you picture yourself being successful
versus a negative mindset makes a bigger productivity from the situation. and reaching your goals, your body
difference than you think. responds to that. So next time you feel the
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET self-doubt rising, picture yourself achieving
THE EFFECTS OF A Here is the good news: if you are reading what you have set out to do.
NEGATIVE MINDSET this and realise that your studying and
A negative mindset causes constant exams might be dominated by a negative • Decide on a goal. Concentrate on your
negative wear and tear to your thoughts attitude, you can take tangible steps end goal instead of thinking of how tired
and, ultimately, to your body, and that is towards a positive mindset. you are or how well everyone else is doing.
bound to take its toll. No one can stay Ask yourself, “What result do I want?” or
positive all the time; we all have bad days. • Ask yourself the following questions when “What do I want my maths marks to be?”
How you respond to those thoughts, you begin to beat yourself up about a poor By concentrating on what you want, you are
however, is what counts.
If you are hit with negative thoughts
before an exam and allow these thoughts
to take root, chances are that you will
underperform. Negative thoughts create
anxiety or fear. Negative thoughts cause
mental blocks or lack of focus and/or poor
preparation. Negative thoughts will tell you
that you have not been studying enough or
do not know your work well enough, despite
the fact that your preparation was solid.
Negative emotions can hurt you mentally.
Your emotions are telling you that, deep
down, you are not confident in your ability
to perform well and achieve your goals.
Therefore, your confidence will decline.
Also, since your negative emotions are
so strong, you will likely have difficulty
focusing on what will help you to perform
well. The negative emotions draw your
attention to all of the negative aspects of
your exam performance.
For example, suddenly you are acutely
aware that there is noise in the classroom,
which in all honesty has always been there
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