Writing faster

[excelsiorxlcr]

 

[geminii]

Hey,

What a coincidence!! I have sort of the same thing, except my hands sweat excessively instead, which is so gross and the pen keeps slipping from my hand! Even though the temperature is good my hands still sweat, when I feel the temperature of my hands they are ice cold! I'm not nervous or anything, it just happens randomly. And as I am typing this, it is happening right now. 
But unlike you they happen outside of exams too, so it could actually be a condition.

I think your cold hands may be nervousness related. Do you get nervous before going into exams?

[excelsiorxlcr]

No, it's not that I'm nervous, my hands just feel really stiff, like they need to be warmed up by writing   

[odeaa]

Hey,

What a coincidence!! I have sort of the same thing, except my hands sweat excessively instead, which is so gross and the pen keeps slipping from my hand! Even though the temperature is good my hands still sweat, when I feel the temperature of my hands they are ice cold! I'm not nervous or anything, it just happens randomly. And as I am typing this, it is happening right now. 
But unlike you they happen outside of exams too, so it could actually be a condition.

I think your cold hands may be nervousness related. Do you get nervous before going into exams?

dude, get those real cheap foam pen grips from the $2 shop, they are so good for sweaty hands! so much better than rubber grips or just normal plastic

[geminii]

dude, get those real cheap foam pen grips from the $2 shop, they are so good for sweaty hands! so much better than rubber grips or just normal plastic

Wow I will try that!! Thanks heaps, this has been annoying me for SO long now and I have trouble writing essays because my hands are so sweaty 

No, it's not that I'm nervous, my hands just feel really stiff, like they need to be warmed up by writing   

My best friend has the same issue. The tips of her fingers turn a yellowish colour and feel freezing cold. It's called Reynaud's Syndrome, and it's genetic, but I'm not sure in your case. I suggest you search it up and see if the images match what you're going through.
If your hands don't turn yellow and those images don't match, and you're not nervous, then I'm not quite sure what's wrong.

[Shinkaze]

Looks like I'm not the only one having this issue! Like it's not I'm nervous or anything but it's just my hands are so cold and I write so slow because my hand just freezes there and my handwriting looked horrible!! I understand the feels and you're definitely not alone for this!!

[strawberries]

Happens to me too!

Not only just in exams, but sometimes when you're in class and your teacher wants you to write whole paragraphs

The only thing I can say is practise and get used to it!
If you keep writing it will get better!

[sjayne]

Wear gloves before your exam!

[starlord]

(Like the others) I agree on the inconvenience of cold hands too! This probably sounds like 'obvious' advice, but have you tried warming your hands way before you enter the hall? Or stuffing them into your pockets/up your sleeves when you're not using them? You could also try doing little hand and finger exercises before the exam too! Staying hydrated is also a good way to keep the blood flowing, but the downside to drinking too much is you'll have to take bathroom breaks.

It's worthy to note that tension can make your hands cold too! It may not be that you're nervous or anything, but just that your hands haven't been doing much, or that something else is on your mind that your body is reacting to with stiffness.

Also, unfortunately, I don't think keeping an electric hand warmer in your pockets is allowed... but there's no specific rule saying that you can't, so as long as you don't take it out during the exam, it should be fine?

Ah, sorry this got a little long. I hope you can overcome this soon!

[grannysmith]

I usually go to the restroom beforehand and use the hand dryer... it works.

[literally lauren]

Tip from my competitive piano days:

Rub your knuckles beforehand. Just do small circular motions with your thumb for about five seconds each; focus on those closest to your palm, but do the fingertip ones as well - ideally both hands, but your (right?) writing hand is the most important.

Increased blood flow and circulation and hand-serotonin etc. etc. [citation needed]

I have no idea if there's any real truth to this, but I used to see a tonne of kids doing it before music exams to limber up their fingers. I kind of adopted it to help me getting through those 2-3 hour writing exams like Lit and English where your hand really doesn't get a break, and I found it prevented hand cramps significantly.

Maybe placebo. Maybe magic. If nothing else, it can help keep unconscious nerves in check by giving you something to do as you wait outside or even inside the exam hall. Plus, if you're ever stuck on a word, you can do the knuckle-exercises and convince yourself you're taking a valid rest - not just waiting for your brain to catch up

[excelsiorxlcr]

Thanks everyone   Lauren, what do you mean by 'focus on those closest to your palm but do the fingertip ones as well'? Aren't all your knuckles equal distance from your palm? Also I tried doing that today and my knuckles are soooo sore now lol

[geminii]

Thanks everyone   Lauren, what do you mean by 'focus on those closest to your palm but do the fingertip ones as well'? Aren't all your knuckles equal distance from your palm? Also I tried doing that today and my knuckles are soooo sore now lol

I think what Lauren meant was that you have three knuckles on each finger, so focus on the knuckles that are closest to your palm (eg. the ones furthest away from your fingertips), but also do the ones closest to your fingertips. 

[literally lauren]

I think what Lauren meant was that you have three knuckles on each finger, so focus on the knuckles that are closest to your palm (eg. the ones furthest away from your fingertips), but also do the ones closest to your fingertips. 

Yes, sorry, I explained that poorly. So you mainly worry about the five big knuckles that connect to your palm, but you can also do the outer ones (the other two on each finger; one on the thumb.)

Definitely don't do it to the point of hurting yourself though :/ You're not trying to move the knuckles around or anything, just massage the skin a little bit to increase blood flow. Some people will have veins quite close to their knuckles as well, so be careful not to put too much pressure in those areas.

It may just be because your hands are a little stiff (like when people go to a chiropractor for the first time and they have huge tension spots in their shoulders or w/e)

disclaimer: I am an English student and therefore provide nothing but sound medical advice