Against the backdrop of a range of competitive examinations in the offing, this time, I would like to share a time-tested mantra of success with all of you. This mantra is to “not only work hard but also smart while maintaining a holistic, healthy and synergistic balance between mind and body.” In a nutshell, this has also been the secret of the success of the UPSC Civil Services Examination toppers, as revealed by them to the Competition Success Review (CSR) during interactions over the years. Concerning preparations for competitive exams, ‘hard work’ refers to ‘quantity over quality’ whereas ‘smart work’ refers to an equal measure of ‘quantity and quality’ without negatively tiring your mind and body. To quote Oprah Winfrey, “The essential question is not ‘How busy are you?’ but ‘What are you busy at?’ ”
Effectively employing a combination of hard and smart work with patience and perseverance allows you to be efficient, more productive and generally happier. This combination, together with a positive frame of mind, reduces your stress levels, conserves your energy, and enhances your thinking and retention power. Initially, this mix of positivity and hard and smart work is hard to achieve. Here, you can take a cue from what Italian mystic and poet Saint Francis of Assisi famously said : “Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
If you wish to score big in competitive examinations, only long hours of study in a sedentary mode will not suffice. As the saying goes, a healthy mind lives in a healthy body. Thus, organised breaks, relaxation, adequate sleep of at least eight hours, physical fitness-oriented exercises, Yoga and outdoor activities are as important as core studies. These are a must to harness the utmost potential of your mind and cognitive capabilities necessary to pass any competitive examination with flying colours.
According to doctors, very long hours of sitting for studies, which in many cases even exceed the whole day or night, results in pain in the neck, eyes and muscles, and cramps in the legs, besides increased obesity and lack of focus. This ultimately also affects your performance in exams. As such, experts say that even if you devote only two hours to every subject in a most focused and attentive manner, it is far better and more effective than excruciatingly long hours of study. Experts also say that eight hours a day are more than sufficient for intensive studies, and the mind may not retain anything studied beyond these hours. The ideal way is to devise a timetable, break every subject in a two-hour preparation mode, and take regular breaks in between. Set priorities, and the subjects in which you appear to be weak may be given some extra time. Recall what American self-help author Oliver Napoleon Hill rightly said : “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” Studying on the bed is a strict no-no, and you must study only on a table and chair, maintaining the correct posture. Dedicate at least two days a week to solving mock test papers to constantly gauge the level of your preparation. Switch off your mobile phone and stay away from social media and TV while studying, and determine a fixed, limited time to check these.
Intake of nutritious food, with increased protein and liquid contents, is also highly recommended for you. A balanced diet, when paired with regular exercise, will ensure that you maintain a healthy, happy sense of physical and mental wellbeing, even during stressful exam times. Besides Yoga, the exercises that the doctors particularly recommend for all of you working hard on your studies include push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups, jumping jacks, squats, pressing stress balls, stretching, neck rolls, shoulder rolls, arm circles, leg raises, spine twist, cat stretch and chair rotation.
If you think you’ve reached your limits at any point during your preparation, think again. You can always achieve more than you think you can. Never give up. Don’t be afraid to push your efforts to the next level and strive to surpass your limits. Another important element of your preparation schedule is the ‘deadline’. Set deadlines because these would help you stay on track and remain focused. Never procrastinate. As is often said, ‘A goal is a dream with a deadline’.
American singer and actress Lena Horne was right when she said, “It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.” So, work hard and smart, focus on both quantity and quality and care for your mental and physical wellbeing to excel. And so far as your holistic preparation is concerned, CSR offers you a proven smart choice.
I wish you all the best in your examinations.
