Exam Stress – A Flipped Approach
Eight months ago I started researching the phenomenon that is stress.
It started when I began looking at solutions for exam stress as a continuance of my mental wellbeing exploits and social initiatives.
What followed was something I never anticipated: a fascinating journey which included completion of a neuroscience course.
The research included:, phone calls, visits, meetups, books, academic readings, desktop research, emails, attendance at conferences, interaction on social media, talks in schools, and workshops and focus groups in the community.
It also included cross sectional analysis of fields such as educational psychology, neuroscience, medicine, mental health, behavioural psychology, positive psychology, psychiatry, cognitive psychology, emotional intelligence, the arts, organisational psychology, coaching, sports psychology, the military, aviation, space and brain health.
But most informative of all was the workshops and face to face talks with focus groups at grassroots level. In other words, listening how stress was impacting at the coalface for people, companies and organisations.
In total, over 400 people were engaged ranging in ages from 13 to 70.
The blogs will cover topics such as the background, books, people, experts, truisms and solutions.
It will also conclude with my small contribution (and recommended solutions) to the phenomenon that is exam stress. But take note, it advocates a flipped approach towards the understanding and management of stress.
The flipped approach moves from traditional approaches to stress of fear and avoidance to approaches that face and embrace.
My hope is that this series of blogs will enlighten on the topic of stress in a general context – but will also contribute to the solutions towards exam stress… and as an extension… to the Winning Minds mission to help improve the wellbeing and performance of people in Ireland.
D O’Kelly – Founder – Winning Minds Movement