The sun is shining, flowers are blooming, it’s a lovely day! So why are you biting your nails, looking at your star sign for good news and keeping your fingers crossed? Right, summer also means school exams. But it doesn’t have to be that bad. The best way to face this tough challenge is by learning to study and relax at the same time.

There is a famous saying in English, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (or Jill a dull girl)’ and there is a lot of truth in it. The important thing to keep in mind when you are studying for these crucial end-of-school examinations is the need to find a balance between studying and taking some time off for some fun.

Everyone has his or her own study strategy. Many adults will tell you to do this or not to do that… Sure, parents and teachers are only trying to help, so it is important to listen to what they have to say. However, we all have different waking and sleeping rhythms, which affect the way we study. Some people study better in the morning, some in the middle of the night. No one approach is necessarily better than another. Find the one that works best for you and believe in yourself. The word ‘balance’ is significant here. Psychology studies have shown that, for most people, last-minute ‘cramming’ does not work, since we tend to forget what we have most recently studied unless we take a day off before the examination to allow our brains to assimilate all those facts and figures.

Another thing: your brain needs food as well as facts, so why not spoil yourself, at least a little bit? Having your favourite food, without overdoing it, will make you feel happier and you will study better. So, as they say, ‘Don’t stress, do your best. Forget the rest.’ Then you can enjoy the sunshine and the good weather with no worries.