Out & About Summer 2019

Out&About wellbeing

EDUCATION

De-stress during exam season Former teacher AMANDA BAILEY offers advice on boosting your child’s confidence and calming techniques

E xam season can be stressful, with pupils and students either cramming in a bit more revision or avoiding it at all costs. Albert Einstein is often quoted as saying: ‘Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by it’s ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid’ . What Einstein is saying is success is more likely to happen if you play to your strengths. The 100-per-cent exam rewards those students who can cram information and regurgitate it under exam conditions, leaving many believing they are ‘stupid’. Parents have no control over those who make decisions about the education system, but Parent’s responsiveness to their child begins in babyhood, playing an essential part in supporting and encouraging them to think positively about themselves, develop good self-esteem and confidence. Talk is important – by verbalising we help children develop great attitudes and a healthy disposition so they can be the best they can be. Notice the good stuff your children do and promote good behaviours and a sense of self worth to make them more resilient to factors they can help their children to know themselves and connect to their inner qualities, abilities, aptitudes and goodness.

outside their control – like exams and results.

Calm the heart rate, clear

the mind and lessen any emotional or psychological stress. The breath is always there as a tool to calm

Instil in your child the power of self-awareness and the ability to respond to different situations. Self-help author and motivational speaker Dr Wayne Dyer believed positive affirmations are healthy nutrition to the human mind, just as

the nervous system, allowing us to pass from fight-or-flight mode to rest-and- digest mode instantly. Try and practice this

exercise a week before the test, so that the brain and body get used to working

healthy food is to the body. Affirmations help build self- esteem, self-confidence and courage. He suggested the best time to manifest

together. • Sit in a comfortable position, keeping the spine straight. Relax the face and keep your eyes closed • Gently massage the hollow area in the front throat (trachea) with the index finger for 30 seconds (this is the area that must open at the peak of the inhalation) • Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose. Place one hand on the belly, feel it inflating as the air fills the belly. • Pull the inhalation upwards, breathing all the way into the collarbone, the hollow area of the throat will open. • Practice with a friend finding and comparing the spot that opens when you inhale deeply, take time to practice alone too, as you will be alone during the exam. • Then exhale freely from the nose, like a balloon deflating, without force or pressure. Repeat five times. This exercise brings air and energy to the trachea, helping with communication, comprehension and expression of verbal and written speech. Use it while waiting to enter the exam room, before the start or during the exam to help calm the mind – or when you are about to open your results.

things you would like into your life is when you are asleep, when the subconscious mind is at it’s busiest,

‘Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by it’s ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid’ Albert Einstein

because the subconscious mind is not connected to our emotions and feelings and is open to suggestion. Take time in that drowsy state between wakefulness and sleep to share lots of good wishes and appreciation with your child, seal thoughts into the subconscious mind with positive affirmations: ‘I am clever’ ‘I am loved’ ‘I am unique’ ‘I am lucky’ ‘I am resourceful’ ‘I am determined’. I will leave the last words of this article to Dr Dyer: ‘There is one grand lie – that we are limited. The only limits we have are the limits we believe.’

If you’d like to find out more, visit www.relaxwithamanda.co.uk or send an email to: info@relaxwithamanda.co.uk or call/text on 07909502667

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O&A SUMMER 2019