As we head towards the end of Term 2 and into the second half of the year, it’s a time when things start to feel a bit more serious. In just one more term, you’ll have finished learning any new content in your subjects and you’ll be wrapping things up with your last few SACs and getting stuck into revision for the end of year exams. At the same time, you’re getting to the point where you need to make some decisions about what you want to do when you finish school, and while some of you might feel excited about moving on to something different, for those of you who are not sure what’s coming next it can add an extra layer of stress.

Let’s take a look at what’s really going on, and what you can do to stay focused and relaxed during this time.

Where is the pressure coming from?

To start with, it’s worth thinking about whether the pressure is coming from yourself or other people. 

If you feel like the pressure is coming from others around you, take a step back and remember that your family, friends and teachers all just want the best for you. Having said that, it might not be coming across in the most helpful way. For example, you might feel like your parents are putting more pressure on you by asking about the SAC and how much study you’ve done, when they’re potentially just checking in to see how you’re going. 

A way around this is to find something that they can do to help you study. Maybe they can help you revise with flash cards, or you can share your timetable with them so they know when you have SACs coming up and how you’re going about revising for them. Having their support will be a massive help for you, so if you’re not on the same page at the moment, consider making them a coffee or tea and having a chat.

What if I’m putting pressure on myself?

If the pressure is coming from yourself, try and work out what in particular you’re worried about. If you’re concerned about letting people down if you don’t do as well as you hope, try to talk to them about that; you might find that they are more understanding than you think, and sharing how you feel with them means they can reassure you and help dismiss some of your concerns.

If you’re worried about not doing well enough to get into the course you want, then research other similar courses that might have a lower minimum entry requirement, and also look at other pathways to get into your dream course. Having concrete back up plans to help you get to wherever it is you want to end up can be a huge relief, and you may as well look at it now rather than trying to do it quickly later if you don’t do as well as you hope and you’re trying to change your preferences before offers are released. 

Also, remember to keep things in perspective. Take some time to understand how your ATAR is calculated and how it is used by unis and tertiary institutions, but then forget about it! You can’t control your ATAR. You can control some of the smaller things, like asking questions when you don’t understand in class, or reflecting on an assessment task to see how you can do better next time. Changing your focus can relieve some of the pressure and actually make a difference in the long run at the same time.

What else can I do if I’m feeling anxious?

I know it’s a cliche, but the most important thing you can do to help relieve some of the anxiety is look after yourself. Get enough sleep. Drink plenty of water. Get some exercise and fresh air. Eat healthy food. By doing these things, you’ll not only feel better but you’re also giving yourself the best chance to be able to focus on studying when it’s time to study and achieve better results.

Lastly, if you haven’t explored mindfulness yet, it’s worth spending half an hour finding out what it is and how you can add some mindfulness to your day to help you stay on track and focused in the present instead of feeling bad about whatever happened at school last week or worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow.

Some extra pressure in Year 12 is totally understandable, but a year is a long time to let it sit there and eat away at you. Try some of the tips here to help ease it, and please reach out if you feel like it’s becoming too much (Beyond Blue has some amazing resources and a free 24 hour helpline).