AK Mishra gives out tips on how to manage stress and anxiety during preparation for Civil Service Prelims
With Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) Civil Services (CS) Prelims just two months away and scheduled to be held on June 18, every student who is going to appear for prelims is bound to experience stress and anxiety. This is not unique to this particular examination and is experienced by all aspirants.
The first time a student experiences stress or anxiety is during the Class X Boards when undue pressure is put on the student from friends and family, as if this is the examination that will define the course of his life. Primarily, stress and anxiety are not bad in moderation.
Stress during the UPSC preparation process can be due to various factors. That’s because most of the aspirants attempt to cover every resource that is available in the market (visit bookshops, photocopy shops, online portals and collect all available resources). Once the materials pile up, they create stress and anxiety).
What is the solutionIJ The solution is, instead of taking everyone's suggestion and trying to study everything under the sun, gain a thorough knowledge about the syllabus first of all and then one NCERT book should be focussed on and an additional book can be used as reference. It is important to be content with limited material and focus on understanding rather than superficially reading many books or referring to different materials
What is the solutionIJ A proper planning is must throughout the preparation process. A plan should include short term, middle term and long term targets. And rather making the preparation quantitative, aspirants should rather make it qualitative; which means instead of studying for 10-12 hours in a day with completely exhausted mind, rather study for 5 to 6 hours with complete focus and devotion.
What is the solutionIJ Aspirants need to understand that everyone have his/own potential, learning ability, different perspective and own way of grabbing or understanding the things. So instead of following others strategy, aspirants should analyse their own weaknesses and strengths; and based on that they should follow their own strategy looking at their comfort and capacity.
What is the solutionIJ Students should understand that they are preparing to become officers who will have to serve their country and its people. Therefore, having sound knowledge about what is happening around, how people are talking about the happenings, how satisfied or dissatisfied they are, what kind of change they are looking at in our society is equally important for an aspirant.
Aspirants should not only focus on enhancing academic knowledge but should develop the right personality traits, which are prerequisite to successful get through all three stages of examination. So, at times it's important for aspirants to go outdoors, play a sport they like or discuss the current events with others to know others perspective and to think like an administrator. This helps unclutter aspirant's mind while reducing anxiety and stress.
HANDlE STRESS BEFORE THE EXAM
There are different approaches to study for the examination.
Though there is no one size fits all approach and students can follow an approach that will suit them the best. But it is advised not to study immediately before the examination as it helps to unclutter your mind. Revision on the other hand is very important, so keep your notes handy for last minute revision.
HANDlE STRESS DURING THE EXAM
The writer is founder-chairman, Chanakya IAS Academy)