It is very easy to get distracted while working on your firefighter promotional exam prep because you already have so much going on in your life. Be open to and explore the idea of writing down, or journaling, your worries as a way to clear your mind for new fire safety information.
Write down what is taking your mind off of your firefighter promotional exam studying. That’s it. So simple. This way the information is out of your brain and onto paper. Whether it is remembering you need to get eggs from the store or worrying about the death of a loved one, write it down.
Writing down things that pop into your head while you're studying is a great way to clear your mind of the information. It doesn’t matter how menial it seems, if you can’t stop thinking about it, write it down. This frees your brain of the stressful information and opens it up to all of the new information you need to absorb and retain for your firefighter promotional exam.
Not only does writing the information that is clogging your brain down clear your mind, it also gives you a list so you won’t forget whatever it is later. You will also have a list of things you worry about, which may not seem great, but it is a great way to learn about yourself, and what is causing the stress in your life. It may be just what you need to start working on getting rid of those stressors. You may notice a whole new mindset in yourself once you start writing down your thoughts.
You do not need a fancy journal or anything like that to do this. Write on anything you have on hand, even on your phone, just try to keep all of your lists together.
If you take writing down your worries a step further and journal about major life traumas, and other things that are emotionally taxing, it has the potential to improve your overall memory, not just temporarily clear your mind. Journaling improves memory by liberating your brain from focusing on past life events that are causing you constant distress. Your brain will be even clearer which will allow you to focus your energy on studying for your firefighter promotional exam and beyond.
Writing is good for your mental health because it is a great stress and anxiety reliever. It allows you to work through any anxious feeling you may have. This is especially beneficial for first responders who see a lot of traumatic events. Not only will you get the benefit of clearing your mind, for retaining all of the new firefighter promotional exam information you are studying for, you will also have a huge reduction in stress and anxiety which will improve your overall mental health and well-being. Even if you don’t like writing, give it a try and see if you notice any benefits of writing down your worries, and anything else that you can’t seem to get out of your mind.
Whether you write down your grocery list before you start a study session, or spend some time journaling about the major stressors in your life before you start studying, you will have a much more productive study session. Who knows, you may even continue journaling after you have taken your firefighter promotional exam as a way to reduce stress and anxiety in your life. Everyone knows firefighters see some gruesome things and just have to move on from them. Journaling may be beneficial, not just to help you focus as you study, but to improve your overall mental well-being.