Focus on the task, not yourself. . .

Michael Hogan, psychologist at NUI Galway, says students perform better when they focus on the task rather than themselves.

"Research suggests that when people are task-focused they are happier and perform better.

"Focus on what you are doing -- drawing out your timetable, arranging your books on the desk, the flow of ideas in your history textbook, your summary notes of the historical facts, the interesting step in the mathematical equation, the clever solution to the physics problem.

"You could just be concentrating on standing up and stretching, taking in the view out the window, checking the time, and moving from one task to another.

"Much anxiety and worry comes from not being task-focused, but rather focusing on your self."

Irish Independent