Results day nerves? Coventry University expert on why it's okay not to have your future figured out

Waiting for your exam results can feel like pressing pause on your future. University places, apprenticeships, moving away from home and career plans can all feel as though they're hanging on one day in August. 

But while results day is an important milestone, psychologists say we often give it far more power than it deserves. 

Dr Katherine Hall, Assistant Professor in Psychology at Coventry University, says much of the anxiety surrounding results day comes from uncertainty and the pressure young people put on themselves to have their futures mapped out before they've even left school.

Ahead of results day, Dr Hall shares her top tips for managing nerves and keeping things in perspective: 

Stop trying to predict the future 

Our brains don't like uncertainty, so when we're anxious we tend to fill in the blanks ourselves and, unfortunately, we usually jump straight to worst-case scenarios. 

Rather than spending weeks imagining every possible outcome, focus on what you know right now. You've done the hard work already and whatever happens on results day, there will be options available to you. 

Try replacing "What if everything goes wrong?" with "What will I do next?". Having a plan for different possibilities can feel far more empowering than worrying about situations that haven't happened. 

Remember that you're more than your grades 

It's easy to compare yourself to everyone else around results day, particularly on social media, but everyone's journey looks different. Exam results tell us how we performed at one particular moment in time. They don't tell us how successful, resilient or capable we'll be in the future. 

Talk about the 'what ifs' 

Students aren't the only people feeling nervous ahead of results day. Parents and carers are often worrying too. Having conversations before results day can help ease some of the pressure. Talk openly about different outcomes and remind one another that changing direction isn't the same as failure. Sometimes knowing you have a plan B can make plan A feel much less overwhelming. 

Don't rush big decisions 

Whether you're celebrating or feeling disappointed, remember that you don't need to have your entire future figured out by lunchtime on results day. 
Give yourself time to process your emotions, ask questions and explore your options. Decisions made calmly are almost always better than decisions made in panic. 

Keep an open mind 

We often talk about life as though there's only one right path but that's rarely true. Thousands of students discover opportunities through Clearing every year and many will look back and say things worked out better than they'd originally planned. Others may decide to take a gap year, pursue an apprenticeship, or choose a completely different route altogether. Your first plan doesn't have to be your final destination. 

Remember, this is just one chapter 

Results day matters but it doesn't define who you are or what you'll become. 
The skills that will serve you most throughout your life aren't just academic ones, they're resilience, adaptability and the confidence to keep moving forwards when things don't go according to plan. 

It's completely normal to feel nervous ahead of results day but remember that this isn't the moment that decides the rest of your life – it's simply the moment that helps you decide what comes next. 

You don't need to have your future figured out at 18. Give yourself permission to be excited about the possibilities rather than frightened by the uncertainty.