How to Feel Happy About Your Exams

Last Updated: December 28, 2022 References

So you spent hours and hours studying and preparing for your exams, but now that they’re done, how can you settle your nerves and feel okay about them? Don’t worry. No matter how stressed out you are or how you performed on the test, there are things you can do to make yourself feel better. To help you out, we’ve put together a handy list of options you can choose from to help yourself feel happy about your exams while you wait for your scores.

1

Replace your negative thoughts with positive ones.

Try to keep things in perspective and challenge your own thinking. You worked hard, studied, and prepared for your exams and you tried your best! If you find yourself thinking about everything you could have done better or mistakes that you think you made, try to think about things that you did right instead. Shifting the way you think about your exams can make you feel better and less anxious as you wait for the results.^{[1]
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- For instance, if you find yourself thinking about a problem on the test that you weren’t sure of, try to remember that there were questions that you nailed as well.

2

Talk to someone about your stress.

Confiding in a friend or loved one can make you feel better. Don’t keep your emotions bottled up. It’s okay if you need to talk to someone about how you’re feeling if you’re worried about your exams. Reach out to a friend or a family member. You could also talk to a school counselor. It could really boost your confidence and help put things in perspective.^{[2]
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- Sometimes it can feel good to just get it all off of your chest. If you need to just rant about how you’re feeling, let it out!

3

Take deep breaths to calm your mind.

Deep breathing exercises can really help with post-exam anxiety. It’s totally normal to feel anxious before and after exams. Try taking a slow breath for 4 counts deeply through your nose, then exhale slowly through your mouth. Take 2-4 deep breaths and you may notice your stress and anxiety levels drop.^{[3]
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4

Go out and celebrate.

Have a nice meal or blow off some steam and party. Congratulations! You made it through your exams. It’s all over now and you can’t go back and change your answers, so take some time to have fun and enjoy yourself. Go to your favorite restaurant or bar. Buy tickets to a concert or see a movie. Do something fun that will take your mind off of your exams for a bit. You’ve earned it.^{[4]
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- You deserve to relax and feel proud of yourself.
- Try not to go overboard with it. Celebrate responsibly and never drink and drive.

5

Hang out with your friends.

Catch up and just relax now that your exams are done. Shoot your besties a text or call up some friends you haven’t seen since you’ve been in test-prep mode. Go out and have some fun or just get together and chill. Spend some time catching up or cutting lose—or both!^{[5]
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- If you’re too busy having fun with your friends, you won’t be as stressed out about your exams.

6

Listen to some of your favorite music.

Choose songs that ease your stress and make you feel better. Put on one of your favorite playlists and just jam out for a while. You could also put on some relaxing music in the background while you just chill out. Listen to whatever you want, as long as it makes you feel good and takes your mind off of your exams.^{[6]
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- You could even get together with friends or go out and have a fun karaoke night!

7

Binge watch some movies or TV shows.

Take a mental break and catch up on what you’ve missed. With all of the focus on your exams, you may not have had much time to relax and watch any of your favorite shows or movies. Take some time to just veg out and watch whatever you want. It could be a new show or an old favorite that makes you feel happy and relaxed.^{[7]
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- For instance, you could check out one of the new movies that’s streaming or put on The Office even if you’ve seen it a million times.

8

Pick up a hobby you’ve neglected.

Take advantage of the extra time you have. Chances are you had to put aside some things and focus on your exams. But now that your exams are done, it’s a perfect time to get back into the hobbies that make you happy. Spend some time doing what you love to take your mind off your exams.^{[8]
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- For instance, if you like to build models or play video games, you now have the time to get back into them!

9

Get out and exercise.

Exercise, play outdoor games, or take a class to help with your stress. Go for a run or a nice bike ride. Hit the gym and get a good weight lifting session in. Let out some of that pent up energy with a good workout. You could also have some fun and get some physical activity at the same time by playing an outdoor sport like basketball, baseball, or football with some friends. Another option is to take a fitness or yoga class to exercise and let off some steam with other people.^{[9]
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- While it’s fine to just relax and unwind after your exams, some healthy exercise can also help reduce your anxiety and make you feel better.

10

Clean and rearrange your room.

Change things up and put away your study materials. One great way to take your mind off of exams is to gather all of your notes, index cards, textbooks, and study materials and put them away out of sight. While you’re at it, you can clean up your room and rearrange your furniture so it feels nice and inviting.^{[10]
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- Sometimes small changes like rearranging your room can change and boost your mood.

11

Catch up on your sleep.

Give yourself a break and allow yourself to rest. Studying for exams is super stressful and you may not have been sleeping well leading up to test day. But now that you’re finished, why not sleep in a little later or take a nap whenever you feel tired. If you’re feeling tired, take some time to rest and let your body recover from the stress of exams.^{[11]
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12

Take a trip somewhere.

Travel somewhere new or somewhere familiar to reduce your anxiety. Now that you have more free time, take a trip somewhere you’ve always wanted to see. It doesn’t have to be out of the country if that’s too difficult. You could drive somewhere new, even if it’s the next town over. You can also visit your hometown or another familiar place that makes you feel at home. Getting out of town can help clear your head and make you feel happy instead of worrying about your exams.^{[12]
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- It could even be a day trip to a local attraction or landmark. Get out and see something new!

Warnings

If you do decide to drink to celebrate or blow off some steam, make sure you have a designated driver or use a ride-sharing app if you need to get home. Never drink and drive.

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