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Five strategies for managing stress and achieving mental calmness while preparing for the UPSC

Everyone knows that the civil service exam is one of the toughest in the country. UPSC candidates face many challenges in addition to the most neglected issue called 'stress.' Many students prepare away from their families and move into accommodation that offers little comfort. Some don't know how to cook and are utterly addicted to chaotic and street food. Because of the pressure, they made him 15 hours to 18 hours of hard work. Lack of sleep, unhealthy diet, and mental pressure cause many physical and mental problems.

Stress and anxiety are common among adolescents, but they rarely pay attention to them and only suffer the consequences later. Here are five strategies for managing stress and achieving mental calmness while preparing for the UPSC:

1. Yoga/Meditation

Yoga is the most effective stress buster, and its practice will have a huge impact not only on your UPSC preparation but also in life. You should also meditate and practice breathing techniques such as pranayama to de-stress and relax. Doing so will keep your body and mind healthy.

The most critical aspect of the entire UPSC IAS exam preparation journey is staying positive and motivated. The constant learning and pressure can overwhelm many and leave them feeling depressed or demotivated.

2. Stop comparing yourself to others

Many applicants are exposed to this fear factor and feel pressured by comparing themselves to friends and peers; for example, if a friend only qualified for her UPSC Prelims exam, they feel worthless. My humble request to all her UPSC applicants, instead of comparing yourself to others, compare your past and current performance and analyze what went wrong in your exam preparation to avoid stress during the UPSC exam.

One of the main reasons for exam stress is comparing yourself to others. Stop comparing yourself to others now! You can compromise your peace of mind by comparing your life to friends who have already passed exams. It is futile to compare yourself to someone who has followed a different path. Nobody compelled you to come here; it was entirely your choice. You will find the answer if you remember why you started your journey in the first place. Nothing of value in life comes for free. Everyone endured hardships and reached their destination.

3. Focus on Revision

Candidates should remember that reviewing previously studied material before the test is more critical than reading new material. With 10-minute activities and lunch breaks in between, students can edit the course content for a pre-defined period to fit their schedule.

Review is an integral part of the 2024 UPSC IAS preparation. If you study a topic from any book, newspaper, or website today and still can't remember it after four months in the exam room, the whole exercise won't help you.

UPSC's curriculum is extensive and diverse. It is natural to forget what you have studied before. Humans have short-term memory. Whatever a candidate has learned in one day, she may forget it in her next two days. Revisions are essential for the long-term retention of information.

4. Solve Mock Tests to Boost Confidence

Taking a practice test gives candidates a better understanding of the questions that will be asked on the exam. Simulating the actual test also helps boost candidate confidence and reduce anxiety. Being able to solve simulated problems is also essential. The syllabus, topic, time allocation, number of questions to be tested, and scoring method are all part of the practice test design. Candidates should analyse incorrect answers instead of focusing only on correct answers to understand the topic better. Exam questions are notoriously unpredictable. For example, you can focus on current affairs or a particular topic one year and another. However, answering previous surveys will help you assess trends in the UPSC exam sheet.

You can analyze the nature and difficulty of questions. This will help you strategically plan your preparations for UPSC 2024. Previous IAS question papers are the authoritative source of UPSC CSE patterns, difficulty levels, and question types. It's also an excellent resource for self-assessment on UPSC IAS prep 2024 and helps you strategize how to crack IAS 2024.

5. Make A Plan and Stick to It

The organization and prioritization of a candidate's exam preparation process should be planned in detail. Goals must first be easy to achieve to build confidence. You can then gradually increase your daily goals. If the goal is too high, to begin with, it can demoralize applicants if not achieved. This is where many candidates fail. A well-planned strategy and schedule can help candidates prepare for exams, streamline their studies, and reduce the UPSC stress and worries associated with civil service exams. Create a Study Plan for 2024 UPSC Preparation to avoid stress during UPSC:

The syllabus is extensive, so be prepared for UPSC 2024 by ensuring that all subjects and subjects are given sufficient time and that important subjects are not neglected. Set deadlines, and prepare for and adhere to UPSC IAS 2024. Ones planned IAS preparation schedule clarifies how the UPSC IAS Preparation 2024 should be completed, how much time should be spent on specific topics/subjects, etc.

Additionally, prepare yourself mentally and physically for the long and challenging road of UPSC IAS preparation. It is essential to stay fit while preparing for the IAS exam. You don't want to waste days getting sick and recovering. Time is of the essence in the extensive 2024 IAS curriculum.

keep your sanity. It's hard to focus when your mind is full of worries. UPSC IAS Readiness 2024 is a top priority. We are most productive at certain times of the day. Some candidates are entirely focused in the early morning, some are most productive in the afternoon, and some are most focused in the evening.

Stay disciplined in your daily learning life. Preparing for the 2024 UPSC IAS requires study hours, so be prepared to limit your social life. Success comes at a price. Go underground while preparing for UPSC 2024.

Bottomline

Managing stress is essential for two people with equal opportunities and abilities. Achievement is a combination of intelligence and state of mind. Knowledge grows increasingly, but it is meaningless if the state of mind is not good. Therefore, stress management is critical.

One way they deal with stress is to look beyond the work one has to do. Focusing too much on a task can be stressful, so look beyond the process instead. This can be surprisingly calming. Try to be as stress-free as possible during preparation. Take corrective action to avoid issues that may interfere with your preparation.

You deserve a healthy mind and body. This is also a requirement for IAS preparation. So don't let it deprive you of your peace of mind. Be calm, calm, cheerful, and cheerful. Do your best.