How to prepare for results day | iQ Feel Good
With results season upon us, it’s normal to experience anticipation or nerves. We’re bringing you some iQ Feel Good tips that’ll help you manage any worries and feel ready for the day and beyond.
Check in with yourself
We’ve put this one first for a reason – because checking in with your feelings about results day and your results can inform what you need. Slow down for a moment, take some deep breaths and tune into what your body is feeling. You could also jot down some thoughts – putting them onto paper can help you make sense of them. Once you know how you’re doing, you can decide if there’s any action you wanna take, whether that’s talking to someone for support or staying off socials.
Detox from socials
Social media can be both a friend and a foe when it comes to results day and the lead up to it. On the one hand, you can hear how others are managing their worries and watch funny and relatable content. On the other hand, absorbing too much can be overwhelming or lead to comparison. Take some time away from the screen by implementing screen time limits, putting your phone in another room or deleting the apps temporarily.
Do some exercise
If you’ve got a busy mind, physically moving your body is a great way to shift some of that pent-up energy. And it doesn’t have to be a big run or a heavy gym session either. It could be as simple as a walk around the block or some yoga stretches. It’ll give you a new focus and get some feel-good endorphins pumping.
Stay connected
Spending time with other people can help you embrace some support and/or give you something meaningful that’ll help you feel good. You could make the most of the warm weather and meet friends or family for a walk in the park, or outside in a café, to share what’s on your mind. If you fancy doing something rewarding, you could ask a local charity shop or homeless shelter if they need any volunteers.
Do something you love
Have a go at something you’ll enjoy to give you something to focus on aside from results. This could be working to achieve a certain level on your fave video game, brushing up on your baking skills, taking a sketchpad out with you and drawing things you find interesting or even learning a new language.
Take time for your mind
If you’re worrying about results, it might be useful to try techniques like meditation, mindfulness or practising gratitude. Meditation and mindfulness are all about becoming more present and allowing thoughts to pass by instead of getting ‘stuck’. Practising gratitude can be as simple as jotting down one or two things you’re grateful for at the start or end of each day. Getting into the ‘attitude of gratitude’ can give you a more positive outlook around results day.
Get some support
Results day is a significant moment in your life, and if you’re finding you can’t stop thinking or worrying about it, firstly, know you’re not alone. Second, it might be helpful to seek some support. Our partner Student Minds offers useful articles and resources about results day, and our partner Shout is always available if you need to talk to someone.
Prep for the day
Unless you’ve accepted an unconditional offer, you might like to do some simple preparation, like double-checking you remember your UCAS password so you can login easily on the day, or making a list of some university Clearing phone numbers you’d like to call if you need to. You don’t have to do this, but it might help you feel more at ease if you’re worried.
Whatever your results, exams are no easy task, so it’s a big deal that you’ve got to this point. We’re sending you good luck and congratulations for results day. And who knows, maybe we’ll be seeing you very soon at iQ.
