Exercises To Calm Your Nerves on Test Day

You’ll do just fine.

A little movement can go a long way in reducing stress, sharpening focus, and boosting confidence. Here are some quick and effective exercises to keep your nerves in check:

🧘 Deep Breathing (Box Breathing) – Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and repeat. This stabilizes your heart rate and clears your mind.

🚶‍♂️ Light Walking or Stretching – A quick 5-minute walk or gentle stretches (rolling your shoulders, touching your toes, or neck tilts) can release built-up tension.

🤸 Power Poses – Stand tall, hands on your hips (Superman stance) or arms raised in a victory pose for 2 minutes. This boosts confidence by tricking your brain into feeling powerful.

💪 Progressive Muscle Relaxation – Tense a muscle group (like your fists or shoulders) for 5 seconds, then release. Repeat with different areas to ease body tension.

🖐️ 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique – Notice 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste to stay present and calm.

A few minutes of these exercises before walking into the exam room can help you stay focused, composed, and ready to ace the test! 🚀