I know the feeling all too well – final exams are done, your laptop is closed, your notes are packed away (or thrown out, to each their own), and the deadlines that took over your life for months are finally gone. So why does it feel like you still can’t fully relax?
For a lot of students, the period after exams, especially at the end of a full semester, brings a different kind of stress. Waiting for grades can feel more unsettling than the exams themselves. There’s nothing left to study for, nothing you can change, and usually no clear timeline for when you’ll finally know where you stand.
Essentially, if that anxious, in-between feeling where you’re checking your student portal every half hour sounds or feels familiar, you’re not alone.
Why waiting for grades feels so uncomfortable
During the semester, stress is at least predictable, and your deadlines tell you what you have to focus on next, so you’ll usually feel some sense of control, even if you’re exhausted. Once exams are over, that structure disappears overnight.
Grades also carry a lot of emotional weight. They can affect scholarships, academic standing, graduation plans, or simply how you see yourself as a student. When outcomes feel tied to your future, it’s understandable if waiting quickly turns into overthinking.
The habits that quietly make the anxiety worse
When grades are pending, it’s easy to fall into patterns that keep the stress looping. Refreshing your student portal multiple times a day (been there, believe me), replaying exam questions in your head, or comparing answers with classmates rarely brings relief, it usually adds to the anxiety you might already be feeling.
These spirals feel productive in the moment but they don’t change the outcome, they just keep your nervous system on high alert. Once exams are handed in, there’s nothing left to fix or redo, even though your brain keeps looking for something to solve.
What actually helps while you wait
The goal during this period isn’t to “stop caring,” it’s really just to give your mind less chances to spiral. One of the most effective things you can do is set boundaries around how much mental space grades are allowed to take up. This might mean setting specific times when you can’t check your portal or deliberately redirecting your focus to things that are tangible and grounding.
Physical movement and offline activities like reading can also make a difference, especially after months of screen-heavy studying. Walks, errands, low-pressure social plans, or even cleaning/organizing can help your body release tension when your mind feels stuck.
I also encourage you to focus on what is in your control. Things like resting, catching up on sleep, rebuilding a routine for the time being, or handling practical things you may have put off during exams.
If your grades don’t turn out the way you hoped
One of the biggest fears during this waiting period is imagining worst-case scenarios (also been there.) If a grade comes back lower than expected, it’s okay to feel disappointed or frustrated, and that doesn’t mean you’re failing or falling behind.
One semester rarely defines your academic or professional future. There are often options students don’t immediately think about, whether that’s talking to an academic advisor, retaking a course, adjusting a timeline slightly or simply learning from what didn’t work this semester.
My best advice here is to try to separate the result from your identity, though I know sometimes it’s easier said than done. A grade reflects your performance in a specific moment, under very specific circumstances, not your intelligence, effort or long-term potential.
Final thoughts + a reminder
You’ve already done the hardest part – you showed up, got through the semester, and finished your exams during one of the most draining times of the year, and that counts for something, regardless of the outcome.
This anxious, in-between feeling won’t last forever. Soon, you’ll have clarity, closure and space to move forward and start thinking about next semester instead. Until then, it’s a good idea to slow down, take care of yourself, and remember that your worth extends far beyond a number on a screen.