A successful artist once said that life takes beautiful turns when you have plans set for them.
With a humongous syllabus of UPSC and glorifying dreams of passing the nation's biggest examination, adhering to a set schedule helps in incorporating discipline, perseverance and dedication to your UPSC preparation.
A schedule helps in analyzing and setting your goals for the day, week or month and motivates and keeps you on track so that you can accomplish your goals.
Want to have a quick sneak peek of the study routines of IAS toppers, then follow the article as we share the required tidbits with you.
Why is a timetable required for UPSC?
Before moving on to the study schedules for the UPSC exAMination, let us first understand the essentiality of the timetable.
Two factors that essentially contribute to the requirement of creating a timetable are the need to complete the UPSC syllabus and incorporate a sense of discipline for ten-twelve months of preparation for the exam. Essentially if you are working professionally, sticking to a schedule becomes more important.
Furthermore, a schedule helps in providing a direction when the mind can be boggled with the plethora of study materials and course materials that need to be covered within the stipulated time.
You can create the schedule by distributing your time effectively among the required subjects and covering the humongous syllabus thereafter. Professionals have observed that creating timetables helps in beating stress. A student will not freak out on completing the syllabus as the exam approaches. It helps you to perform best of your abilities.
Upon completing a certain portion within the given time frame, it provides a certain satisfaction that boosts productivity. You can create customized study plans according to subjects and follow them accordingly. Fixing study sessions with regular break intervals helps your mind to focus and provides you with time for other miscellaneous activities. The timetables ensure periodic assessments that gauge your strengths and talents.
Snippet of an ideal timetable for the UPSC examination
05:00 AM: Waking up
05:00 AM - 06:15 AM: Morning Routine
06:15 AM- 07:45 AM: Reading Newspaper
07:45 AM- 08:30 AM: Breakfast
08:30 AM- 11 AM: Study Session
11 AM- 11:30 AM: Break Time
11:30 AM- 01:30 PM: Study Time
01:30 PM- 02:30 PM: Lunch Time
02:30 PM- 05:00 PM: Study Time
05:00 PM- 07:00 PM: Miscellaneous activities
07:00 PM- 09:00 PM: Study Time
09:00 PM- 10:00 PM: Dinner
10:00 PM- 10:30 PM: Watching News/ Discussing
UNWINDING TIME
11:30 PM: Hit the bed
It is essential to acknowledge here that this is just a snippet of an "ideal" routine for UPSC preparation. It should be tweaked according to the need of the aspirant.
If you are working professionally or involved in activities that do not allow you to adhere to this strict routine, then you should create a routine that rotates according to preparation.
For working professionals, you can squeeze in two hours before your work time starts and focus on general studies. Then during your working hours, you can utilize your breaks to remain updated on current affairs. After work, you should have at least two hours of studying and an additional half-hour for active revision.
You can read our concise guide for working professionals elaborating on effective tips and techniques that can aid them in the UPSC examination.
It is essential to set aside 4-5 hours per day for studying for examinations. You can also create a separate routine for the weekends as you will have more time on your hand. In the end, it depends on using your time wisely and following the study sessions without any distractions.