You are likely two or three papers down. The initial adrenaline of the first exam has faded, replaced by a dull, aching exhaustion. The coffee isn’t working as it used to, and your eyes feel like they have sandpaper in them.

If you are reading this, you might be doom-scrolling on your phone, trying to escape the pressure for just five minutes.

Good. Stay here for two minutes.

You don’t need a lecture on “staying positive.” You need a reset button. When you are stressed, your body dumps cortisol, your heart rate spikes, and your pre-frontal cortex (the part of your brain that remembers Audit Standards) shuts down to focus on “survival.”

Here are 3 field-tested CA exam stress-relieving techniques to hack your nervous system and get your brain back online.

1. The 4-7-8 Technique (For When You Can’t Sleep)

Best used: The night before the exam, when your brain won’t stop replaying the syllabus.

Insomnia during exams is the enemy. This technique acts like a natural tranquillizer for your nervous system.

1. Exhale through your mouth completely (make a whoosh sound).
2. Inhale quietly through your nose for a count of 4.
3. Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
4. Exhale forcefully through your mouth for a count of 8.

Why it works: Holding your breath allows oxygen to fill your lungs and circulate throughout the body. The long exhale slows your heart rate. Do this 4 times, and you will feel sleepy.

2. The “Box Breathing” Method (For the Exam Hall)

Best used: At 1:50 PM, sitting in the exam hall, waiting for the paper.

Navy SEALs use this technique to stay calm in combat. If it works for them, it works for cracking the CA Final.

1. Inhale for 4 seconds.
2. Hold for 4 seconds.
3. Exhale for 4 seconds.
4. Hold empty for 4 seconds.

The Mentor’s Take: Visualize drawing a box in your mind as you do this. It distracts your brain from the panic (“What if the paper is tough?”) and forces it to focus on the rhythm.

Relax and gently regain confidence by practising a mock interview on the Interview Bot.

3. The “Brain Dump” (To Clear the RAM)

Best used: 1 hour before the exam.

Your brain is like a computer with multiple applications running in the background. You are worried about AS-10, that one tax section, and whether you packed your admit card.

The Fix:
Take a blank sheet of paper. Set a timer for 3 minutes. Write down every worry you are bothered about.

• “I feel unprepared for consolidation.”
• “My calculator feels weird.”
• “I’m scared of failing.”

Once it is on paper, your brain feels it has been “acknowledged” and stops looping the thought. Crumple the paper and throw it away. It’s surprisingly therapeutic.

Conclusion

You have done the hard work. The notes are read, the mocks are written. Now, it is just a game of nerves.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, remember: You are part of a community of thousands going through the exact same struggle right now. You are not alone in this.

Take a deep breath. Drink some water.
You’ve got this.

This exam is just a hurdle, not the destination. Keep your eyes on the prize. When you cross the finish line, we’ll be here to help you transform from a ‘Student’ to a top-tier ‘Finance Professional’. Take a look at the future waiting for you at CA Monk.

Also read: 8 Common Myths About the CA Course (And the Truth You Need for Jan 2026)