Pathways Podcast - Warwick Chemistry · Warwick Chemistry

S3-E7: Managing Anxiety In Exam Season

·26 min·2 clips

Sarah Parkinson reveals why low stress can actually lower your productivity and how to find the optimal balance.

This episode of the Pathways Podcast from Warwick Chemistry focuses on student well-being and managing stress during exam season. Host Tom Ritchie is joined by University Wellbeing Advisor Sarah Parkinson, a health and social care professional. Sarah outlines her role as part of a multidisciplinary team that serves as the first point of contact for student support. The discussion details the Wellbeing and Student Support service, which includes a disability services team, a therapy team, and mental health nurses. Sarah explains that students can access brief consultations without an appointment between 10 AM and 3 PM on weekdays, either online or at Senate House. She identifies common student stressors, including academic deadlines, finances, social adjustments, and self-imposed pressures like perfectionism. Sarah describes a well-evidenced link between stress levels and productivity, noting that optimal performance occurs with moderate stress. She explains that excessive stress can lead to burnout, characterized by feeling overwhelmed and a drop in productivity. Practical strategies offered include recognizing early signs of stress, such as neglecting hobbies or changes in eating habits. Sarah emphasizes foundational self-care: eating regularly, sleeping, exercising, and scheduling time to relax. She advises students to avoid overcommitting and to practice saying no to establish healthy boundaries. Using a planner to break down tasks is recommended to combat feeling overwhelmed. Building a support network of friends, family, or study groups is highlighted as crucial for managing stress. For exam season specifically, Sarah warns against focusing exclusively on work and neglecting other activities. She notes that sustained stress can trigger the brain's fight-or-flight anxiety response, impairing study effectiveness. Sarah stresses that sleep is critical for memory and information absorption, advising against all-night study sessions. She suggests practising breathing exercises and positive self-talk to manage physical symptoms of anxiety, like an increased heart rate. After an exam, she recommends avoiding dwelling on it and instead engaging in a different activity. The Wellbeing service runs a specific Exam and Deadline Stress Masterclass online during the Easter vacation. The service also offers a five-week rolling Steps to Wellbeing program covering stress management, productivity, low mood, sleep, and uncertainty. The university provides an Understanding Well-being module that contributes to the Warwick Award. A key insight is that managing well-being and stress is framed as an essential professional skill for workplace success beyond university. The conversation reveals that high-achieving individuals with high standards can be particularly susceptible to excessive self-pressure. The tone is conversational, supportive, and educational, blending professional advice with relatable personal reflections from the hosts. This episode is ideal for university students seeking practical, non-clinical strategies for exam stress and general well-being management. Listeners looking for crisis intervention or in-depth clinical mental health discussions might find the content too general.

As heard by us

A calm, practical guide to exam stress and the support routes around it.

Warwick Chemistry's exam-season conversation is built for students who need calm, practical help more than theory. Sarah Parkinson lays out the wellbeing team's role, and the guidance stays grounded: plan the work, protect time for rest, keep close to friends, family, study…

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Why you'd press play

You want steadier exam weeks and a clearer sense of the support on offer.

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