The weather today was beautiful, so I was really happy to be able to get out and enjoy it, and also to be able to have some photos outside for a change.

I had to go out today to meet some people about doing some volunteering over the summer so I wanted to wear something smart, but not too formal. I love this outfit for the summer!

Good morning everyone!

Firstly I would like to thank you all for your lovely and supportive comments on my previous post about going into court. If you missed my previous post and don't know why I had to go into court - don't worry, I didn't do anything wrong. It was actually the last exam of my university course and you can read a bit more about it here, if you so wish.

It was horrible as predicted, but I actually managed to achieve a fairly decent mark despite spouting some utter nonsense while I was on the stand.

In between then and now I have been spending a lot of time clearing out a load of old stuff that I no longer need. I am a hoarder of stuff - anything that might be useful usually gets kept - so it was actually quite nice get rid of most of it.

Since I have been spending my time in the house having a clear out, I haven't been wearing much that was worth sharing, but I also seem to have got out of the rhythm of blogging properly. I decided to check in today but I only managed to get one semi-decent photo and all the rest were horrible.

In 5 days time I have the last exam of my current university course. I am a forensic science student, and for this particular exam I am required to go into court and present evidence on a mock crime scene which I processed with some of my colleagues back in January.


It will be the second time in my life I have had to do such a thing - the first time was as part of my university course last year, and took place in the family court with my teachers acting as the barristers and judge. It was the most terrifying experience of my life to date; I just barely held it together whilst I was on the stand and burst into tears immediately after finishing.

This year, I am in a full-sized court room and will be standing up in front of a real barrister, jury and people in the gallery. Needless to say I am somewhat nervous (understatement of the year right there) but I am doing my best to cope. At the end of the day, it will only last about 15 minutes. As long as I turn up, look smart, and tell them my name, then I've passed - it's what happens after that that will determine whether I pass well or not.

I'm sure many other people have exams and things around this time, so here are some of my favourite tips for keeping calm and carrying on!

1) Don't procrastinate


Sometimes this is the hardest thing in the world to do, but things like exam preparation are often better if you just sit down and do them. To avoid getting distracted, turn off or get rid of anything that you don't actually need. Switch off your internet or download SelfControl so you can block all those website you know will eat up your time. Leaving something right until the last minute can be incredibly stressful, so the last thing you want in an already stressful situation is more stress, right?

2) Play some of your favourite music


Music in itself can be distracting but sticking to relaxing classics or familiar old favourites can be really helpful. If you need something mellow and calming, there are loads of study playlists available on places like 8tracks (for example 1, 2), or if you need some extra motivation try some faster-paced mixes such as The Most Awesome. Tumblr is a really great place to find playlists - here is the 'study playlists' tag which has loads to listen to.

3) Go for a walk


If the stress and pressure is really starting to get to you, take a break and go for a wander outside. I often pop out to the supermarket and fetch some sweets or snacks that I can nibble on while I work. The fresh air can be really help to re-focus you and clear your head.

4) Take a short break to do something you really enjoy

Doesn't matter what it is - just something that isn't revision. Reading, knitting, dancing... whatever. Just don't get distracted doing that and forget to go back to revising!


5) Hug someone

Your mum, your cat, or a friend all work well. If your hugee is human, make them pet your hair. It's aaaaaaweeeesomeeeeeeeeeeee.


6) Medicate


And I don't mean with alcohol. If you suffer from really crippling nerves, herbal stress relief tablets or Bach Rescue Remedy can really help. You don't need an expensive brand because they all contain more or less the same ingredients - just remember to check the packaging to see whether or not they will make you drowsy. You don't want to be falling asleep during your exam or job interview.

7) Don't panic

Try to remember it's not the end of the world. If you fail your exam, you can usually re-sit it or work really hard on something else to pull your grade up. If you don't get the job, remember there will be others you can apply for. But also try to remember to believe in yourself! You can do it!


And now I must follow my own advice and go and get on with my work instead of procrastinating!

Recently my parents proposed a visit to Kedleston Hall, a National Trust-owned property a short drive away from where I live. Upon checking the website I was delighted to learn that the house was used as one of the filming locations for The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley.





References

National Trust (2013) Kedleston Hall, National Trust [Online]. Available at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston-hall/. Accessed 22nd April 2013.

Steele, P. (2001) Encyclopedia of British History. Miles Kelly Publishing: Essex.

Wikipedia (2013) Duke of Devonshire, Wikipedia [Online]. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Devonshire. Accessed 22nd April 2013.

Wikipedia (2013) Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, Wikipedia [Online]. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgiana_Cavendish,_Duchess_of_Devonshire. Accessed 22nd April 2013.

Wikipedia (2013) Kedleston Hall, Wikipedia [Online]. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kedleston_Hall. Accessed 22nd April 2013.

Wikipedia (2013) William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, Wikipedia [Online]. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cavendish,_5th_Duke_of_Devonshire. Accessed 22nd April 2013.