The Importance Of Positive Affirmations For Students
As more and more research is done into improving our mental health and wellbeing, the importance of positive affirmations for students is becoming much clearer. Depending on the way your child learns, a key factor in improving their academic performance could be the way that you speak to them or the way that they speak to themselves — particularly during times of intense stress, like the exam period.
Words of affirmation for students can come in many forms, and once you know what to say or find an affirmation that works for you, this can be a really powerful tool. We’re here to cover everything you need to know about daily affirmations for students and why/how they can help, including some examples of powerful affirmations for students to try out.
What are affirmations and how do they work?
Affirmations are positive statements or phrases that bring a sense of increased strength, peace, clarity, or anything else you’d like to channel or experience. Affirmations offer a way to speak to yourself with kindness, reducing negative self-talk or self-sabotaging thoughts. Many people experience positive results when regularly repeating positive affirmations, and students can benefit greatly from affirmations too, especially if they tend to become anxious or stressed easily.
Of course, positive affirmation can come from external sources too, and it’s important to ensure your child feels encouraged and supported during their studies. However, practicing self-affirmation statements for students can be an even more powerful way to calm their nerves and renew their confidence. To do this, encourage your child to choose a positive affirmation (or several) that resonates with them and repeat their chosen statement(s) to themselves daily.
Some people find that they benefit more from the practice if they say their chosen affirmation to themselves in the mirror, but this is not essential. Why not get creative with your child’s affirmations? You could purchase some glass pens and write chosen affirmations on the bathroom or bedroom mirror, or perhaps ask them to write their chosen statements down and decorate the paper, before pinning them up in a visible place.
By encouraging your child to invest in this form of positive self-talk, chances are you’ll be contributing to an improvement in their long-term mental health.
How do positive affirmations help students?
Why are positive affirmations important? Plenty of research has been done on the positive effects of affirmations, and the many ways they benefit us. Positive affirmations can help students to develop in numerous areas: building confidence, overcoming negative thoughts and doubts, and encouraging them to believe in themselves.
If your child suffers from low confidence or self-esteem, choosing a positive affirmation can allow them to build up their confidence over time. Our thoughts greatly affect the ways we behave, and by replacing critical thoughts with motivational ones, your child’s confidence is bound to increase over time. Confidence is an important factor in improving ability to learn and perform, so this is a super beneficial thing to work on.
If you notice that your child frequently puts themselves down, or feels incapable or overwhelmed, positive affirmations can help to change negative self-talk. By concentrating on the ways in which they have already succeeded, and focusing on achievements rather than uncertainties, there’s an opportunity to change the way your child speaks to themselves over time, challenging these limiting beliefs.
Affirmation statements for students
In order for a positive affirmation to be effective, it goes without saying that it really means something to the person who says it to themselves. This is the same for students: if your child is looking for a confidence boost in relation to their studies, you should ensure that the chosen affirmations directly address this.
Choosing an affirmation that resonates with your child doesn’t need to be a struggle. Below, we’ve put together a list of some of the best affirmations for students, so why not try some out? These are merely suggestions, so feel free to tweak them to suit your child’s needs or simply use them as inspiration.
Daily affirmations for students
For students who are suffering from low confidence or low self-esteem:
- I accomplish amazing things every day at school
- My mind’s capacity to learn is great
- I am clever and dedicated to learning
- I am a quick learner who absorbs information well
- I always try my best
For students who are suffering from pre-exam stress:
- I will do my very best to prepare for this exam
- I enjoy preparing for exams
- I will be relaxed before, during, and after this exam
- I will channel my nerves into productivity and performance
- My grades don’t define me, but I always try my hardest
For students who need to remember the value of their education:
- My education is important
- I am in control of how much I learn
- I want to learn from my teacher and my peers
- My education will help me achieve my dreams
- I love learning more and more every day
For students who need a motivation boost, or to increase their concentration and focus:
- I can achieve anything I put my mind to
- I stay focused on my exams
- I am detail-oriented and dedicated
- I can only do one task at a time, and I focus 100% on this
- If I concentrate on studying, I will get good grades
For more resources to help you support your child in their academic journey, head over to Teachers1on1.
