Canned Anxiety

Energy drinks are a cram session staple and many consume them regularly anyway, but they can cause spikes in heart rate and anxiety as consuming lots of caffeine will tend to do.

28% of students are drinking energy drinks and 39% are eating more foods like chips and chocolate when studying long hours or late at night, 25% of students cut back on exercise in the lead up to exams.

A survey of 1000 students conducted by ReachOut found that of those turning to energy drinks, 22 per cent are consuming two daily, and almost 14 per cent reported consuming three or more energy drinks daily.

In addition, 39 per cent of students are consuming caffeinated drinks (coffee-based), 22 per cent drink soft drinks and 39 per cent of students said they eat more foods like chips, lollies and chocolate to get them through long study sessions.

A quarter (25%) of students surveyed reported being much less likely to maintain their normal exercise habits during exam time and in the lead-up to assessments.

As well as driving challenges for students’ dietary habits and exercise patterns, study stress is also having increased wellbeing impacts for students. The proportion of students who reported changes in their mood rose by 19 percentage points year on year, the number who reported not doing enjoyable things rose by 13 percentage points and the number who reported relationship challenges rose by 10 percentage points.

When it comes to seeking support for study stress 61 per cent of students said that their friends were the most common source of support and 31 per cent said they study with friends to help with studying long hours or late at night. 39 per cent of students surveyed had sought support from the parents and carers, around one in five sought support through an online search or website (23%) and 22 per cent had been supported by a teacher or school counsellor.

Deputy CEO of ReachOut, Jackie Hallan, said that the new data provided an opportunity for students to make simple yet powerful changes to help them feel better.

“We found that the wellbeing impacts of study stress are significant, and rising. More and more students aren’t doing things they enjoy, they’re experiencing changes to their moods and their relationships are suffering too. For some students a combination of the food and drinks that spike our energy and not moving could be contributing to these experiences, or they could make them feel even harder to manage.

“Exams and assessments don’t have to drain you. It’s not about being perfect, it is about moving and fuelling your mind and body in smarter, kinder ways. Even small changes like taking short walks during study breaks and staying hydrated can level up your wellbeing and help you power through.”