High school students are busy preparing for exams which are slated to begin next week at many schools.

That also marks the end of semester one and the beginning of a whole new timetable schedule, which can all add some stress and anxiety.

Charlie Siler, a guidance counselor at Northlands Parkway Collegiate in Winkler says there are a number of ways to help cope and reduce anxiety, some of which are fairly simple. He says a big thing many people often overlook when they get busy is diet and sleep. "If you can focus on maintaining a healthy diet and try to eat regularly to keep your blood sugar somewhat consistent, and just to give you fuel that you need when studying or heading into an exam, those things are really important."

Trying to get a healthy amount of sleep leading up to and the night before an exam is also important. Siler says sometimes people have the old school notion of cramming the night before which can be counterproductive. He says cramming limits your ability to be able to concentrate and focus on what you're trying to do the day of the exam.

Siler says preparation is also key. "Not leaving things until the last minute. You want to start early, reviewing, preparing, and talking to your teacher."

He notes, generally, teachers have made up the exams, so they can offer some very valuable insight as to what to study for and how to study. "Taking breaks is a big one, trying to break things down, studying in chunks of time, and giving yourself some breaks so you have time to process what you've just studied."

Giving yourself rewards that involve doing something totally different in between, like going outside, playing games, or doing some physical activity are also beneficial in reducing stress and helping you sleep better.

Relaxation and visualization strategies, which Siler says may be a newer concept for some people, can also be something you can try. If you start having negative thoughts, Siler says these grounding and visualization strategies can be done at the comfort of your own desk very subtly without anyone even noticing to help you relax.

As for the day of the exam, the first thing Siler recommends is to arrive early as any type of rush the day of the exam will increase your stress. "Look through the exam when you start and start with something you know well, that will increase your confidence and help settle you into writing. And try not to pay too much attention to what others are doing. There's a lot of stress around exam environment, just that formality and being aware of what's happening."

That also marks the end of semester one and the beginning of a whole new timetable schedule, which can all add some stress and anxiety. "We're getting towards the end of semester one and starting semester two, so those transitions cause a lot of stress. Students are finishing something off, and the new semester brings brand new courses, whole new sets of classes in terms of classes with them...so anytime there's transition like that, there tends to be a little more tension in the student body."

Siler says it usually only takes a few days after the semester changes for things to get ironed out and for students to feel comfortable and get settled into their new routines.

When it comes to dealing with stress and anxiety, Siler says students are definitely accessing the guidance team at NPC. "We've noticed a change over the last number of years where students are just a little more comfortable in talking about anxiety in general, and then looking for strategies. Students are really becoming more and more educated about how to access information and they're really looking coping strategies and information that will help them be successful."