22 February,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
Vidhi Sureliya locks away her phone in box to reduce its distraction
While parents and students across the city are grappling with exam nerves, a few are taking over the reins of their mental health, ensuring that they go into the exam room sharp and ready to take on the world.
Although previous generations have had their own arsenal of tricks, not everyone benefits from the usual recommendations, such as yoga, meditation, and pranayama. So Gen Z and their millennial parents are employing tactics that are a mix of the former's digital dexterity and mental health tools . These include the popular trick of imagining the best result, âmanifestation', vision boards, digital detox, and calming content consumption into the mix.
Gone are the days of hanging a positive thought or a poster of their role model; the students today are taking their familiarity with digital dexterity with designs to the next level of today. One such is Tanisha Potdar, a Class 12 board Mumbai student, who has created a digital poster that she printed as the background of almost all her electronic/digital devices.
Amar Cherawalla on a run
"I have a vision board collage with a picture of the institute I wish to go to, a marksheet that says I have achieved over 90 per cent, affirming words like âachieved' and âaccepted' to help me remain positive through the exam. While I have not pasted a physical copy of the vision board, I have saved it on my gadgets wallpaper to remind me of my goals," said the student, who was preparing for her French exam.
Parents who really want to do all they can for their children are stepping up as well. This includes Chitra Ahuja, who believes that your productivity is linked to the power of the physical space.
Including anything from rearranging the house and deployable hacks for an exam revamp. Ahuja, who is a senior manager at Podar Prep School, has a space designed for her sons with these principles in mind. "I teach my children to associate that space with learning so that they don't get overwhelmed by distractions while they are studying or preparing for exams," she said. As a result, Chitra's sons have neutral colours, calming hues, that is a âno-gadget' zone.
Many believe that during exam weeks, the colours in one's room can have a strong influence on the mood. "Shades of blue and green on your sheets can create a sense of calm and enhance clear thinking.
Tanisha Potdar shows off her digital posters/wallpaper that has manifestations, like getting into the college she wants to
You can steer clear of bright reds or yellows; while they boost energy, they can also disrupt your focus. Dark colours like black absorb light and can feel quite heavy," say furnishing experts like Amanpreet Singh Arora.
A change in hues may be routine for some, but other parents also turn to spiritual paths ahead of stressful exam times. Hema Sharma, a Hyderabad resident, was worried about her son, who is now to appear for Class 12 CBSE board exams. Seeing his score drop after grade 10, the mother sprang into action before the boards and found Mumbai-based Healer and Manifestation coach Gunjan Malviya.
"After a phone call with her, we pasted images of various deities and affirmative words around my son's room. I have pasted the phrase âspark highest potential' on my son's almirah, as an affirmative statement she shared. After following this for three to four months, we have seen his focus improve, and I feel calmer," said Sharma.
As per Malviya, practices like crystal bracelets, mojo bags, Bach flower remedies, vision boards, switch words, affirmations, or "energy circles" can sometimes help indirectly, mainly through psychological mechanisms rather than proven physical or mystical effects. "When a child believes they have something âsupporting' them (bracelet, affirmation card, etc.), anxiety may be reduced. Lower anxiety can improve concentration and exam performance. And when parents lovingly create these items or help build rituals, children feel supported, which increases confidence and reduces stress," Malviya told Sunday mid-day.
Maximising one's motivation is one side; however, cutting out the chaos is just as important. Vidhi Sureliya opts for a digital detox. Every time she studies for her HSC boards, Sureliya locks up her phone in a small wooden box, which then goes inside a cupboard. Staying away from the constant buzz of notifications has helped this student.
"I try to use the internet via the laptop so I don't end up doom-scrolling on my phone. I have many friends who shun their mobile phones for months together ahead of big exams. Similarly, I try not to study while wearing my pajamas. Simply dressing like I have somewhere to go keeps me more alert, and not so casual," said Vidhi.
A few have figured out âcomfort watching' to regulate their systems. Della, a Class 11 science student who took her boards last year, went hard on Christopher Nolan's âInterstellar' as her pre-exam binge.
"One evening, before a low-stakes exam, I saw that the movie was out on an OTT, and gave it a shot. It was surreal. I was very motivated and had a deeper appreciation for the sciences. The next day I scored 75 per cent and soon the movie became both a ritual as well as a lucky charm," said Della, a science student who intends on repeating this practice before her Class 11 finals.
"It taught me that the universe is meant to be so much bigger than that," she added.
Masuma Cherawala, a physiotherapist and a parent to a Class 10 CBSE student from Gopi Birla Memorial School, believes that her son's daily runs are what help them the most.
"My son takes his âme-time' with his 30-45 minute run every day, and I manage to join him often," she said. Just how does it help? "His posture, sitting in one place for three hours, learning to adjust without ACs and other comforts of your home," she adds.
"I think the easiest thing we can do for our children is remain peaceful ourselves. I turn to the Quran and spirituality to calm myself down and provide better support for my son," she added.
Bhanushali, who is appearing for her class 12 board exams, has cut out sugar. "I did the same before my class 10 exams, and it helped me increase my focus, " she said.
She studies and revises on the terrace. "Sitting on the terrace helps me focus better. I start early so that I catch fresh sunlight and avoid construction ruckus too," she said.
