The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is known to cause a lot of stress in aspirants. This stress might make it difficult for them to pass all stages of the exam. There are several ways to deal with stress during your UPSC preparation.
Time mismanagement frequently leads to stress, and stress can lead to even greater time mismanagement. It creates a vicious cycle in which one causes the other to happen. It is difficult to escape this loop without first defining one’s objectives. Furthermore, because time and stress management are a long-term process. It’s important to focus on identifying the fundamental reasons rather than merely treating the symptoms.
Time mismanagement is caused by a lack of understanding of how to allocate time according to the relevance and applicability of the syllabus. The syllabus is broad and sometimes open-ended, it necessitates smart covering with a select few sources. The size of the syllabus overwhelms the majority of candidates. They are simply unsure if they’ll be able to complete the entire curriculum in the time allotted. As a result, the lack of clarity in the syllabus, as well as the open-ended character of some topics, are the main causes of stress when studying for the CSE.
Furthermore, aspirants frequently struggle to determine whether they are covering crucial topics from the appropriate sources. As a result, needing to make reading material selections is another cause of stress. There are numerous books on the same subject and a plethora of websites dedicated to the same issues, resulting in uncertainty and heavy workload for the aspirant.
One must set time-bound objectives for their CSE preparation. These should be clear goals for the day, month, or even the entire CSE year. When you set your goals, it is critical that you do so with care and consideration. The art of breaking a day’s worth of time into pieces that are prioritized based on needs is known as daily scheduling. An aspirant should practice everyday schedule for at least a few weeks, if not always.
Many people experience significant physiological and behavioural symptoms such as insomnia, migraines, high blood pressure, and even depression as a result of stress. As a result, take proper care of the body while studying for the CSE, after all, a healthy mind can only exist in a fit body.
Eat nutritious food, get enough sleep. Exercise by going for a stroll, practising yoga, or participating in your favourite sport. Make a habit of heading to bed and getting up at the same time every day. People who are healthy are less stressed and more efficient with their time.
You should gradually be capable of making good development and learn how to prioritise the various elements of the syllabus according to your specific needs. Set deadlines, but don’t be too concerned if short-term deadlines are missed. One should take the procedure of time and stress management seriously, beginning with basic, readily achievable goals. Hope these ways to deal with stress during your UPSC preparation help you score higher in your examination. Remember, the key to passing examinations is dedicated and consistent study with a healthy mind.
