How to stay engaged in ESE or GATE Preparation throughout the year?
ESE or GATE preparation can be a daunting task for any student. Any work that brings you success requires a lot of dedication and consistency. It is extremely necessary that one remain engaged in that particular task all the time. Similar is the case with the preparation of the ESE or GATE Examination. These are the two national-level exams where the competition is increasing every year. To crack the exam, it is mandatory to put your heart and soul into it.
Though it is easy to say that one should be focused, it is not an easy task to remain focused for such a long duration during ESE or GATE Preparation. After a certain timeframe, one starts to lose the rhythm and falls into the trap of giving up on the examination and settling for something less. While that might seem like the best situation at that particular time, you may later regret not fighting till the end and letting your guards down halfway. Not being able to stay focused for a very long time is a very common situation that most students encounter. Today we will discuss certain ways through which you can overcome the situation and stay engaged in your preparation throughout the year.
Table of Contents
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
- Set your mind to something you really want: Before you begin your preparation, sit back and ask yourself if you really want to give this exam and if the end results of cracking it actually incite you enough. If the answer is no, drop the preparation before even starting it. If the answer is yes, then write down the reasons why you want to crack this exam.
Make sure that you are listing all the reasons, no matter how stupid or silly they may sound to you. Once you are done with it, paste it on one of the walls in your study room. No matter how many inspirational posters you put up on your wall, this one piece of paper will be your only inspiration in ESE or GATE Preparation. Every time you get back to why you want to give this exam, you will shed all your boredom and start afresh with full confidence and focus. Our human mind works on logic, so it is important that you give it logical reasons for starting something so that it stays focused throughout the journey. - Smartly Plan your preparation strategy: Do not make unrealistic plans of completing one entire subject in a day or studying for 14 hours a day. Starting with such unrealistic plans will only demotivate you and take you away from actually continuing the preparation. Therefore, smartly plan your strategy, and even if you study for just 3 hours at the start of your preparation, it is okay. Make sure you are utilizing those 3 hours in the best possible way and making the most of them. You can eventually increase your study time, depending on how comfortable you are with it. Thus, keeping in mind your exam date and the time you are left with, plan your strategy and make sure you stick to it.
- Motivation: Other than the reasons why you want to give the exam, you can watch motivational videos, read books, or watch toppers talk to motivate yourself. When you become aware of life after clearing the exam, you can see your goal clearly and you work harder to achieve it. So find what motivates you the most and keep your spirits high about the exam, because only then you can give your best shot and not lose focus midway.
- Reward yourself: It is going to be a long journey before you actually give the final exam and get the results. Therefore aim for small goals and reward yourself for those small achievements. Your short-term goals can be as simple as completing your weekly or monthly target, getting good marks in the test series, completing a difficult subject in the allotted time, and many more. Reward yourself for these small achievements. These small awards will be your motivation to achieve your larger goal of clearing the exam.
Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.
- Do not stay aloof: One mistake that most students make while preparing for any examination is staying aloof. They cut themselves off from society, their friends, and everyone else and started preparing alone. Well, that is a big mistake. Staying alone can breed negativity, and someday you may just give up on yourself. You should avoid it during ESE or GATE preparation. Being in touch with your friends and family members gives you a happy space where you can share your feelings and discuss your preparation. You can discuss it if you feel low or share your happiness when you achieve something. Talking to people also refreshes your mind and inspires you to work harder for the examination. So make sure to have your happy space with your close friends and family members.
- Get involved in discussions: Other than talking to family and friends, you can have a study group of fellow aspirants for group discussions. Though not everyone favors group discussions, they are a good way to learn your subjects fast and clear any doubts. Group discussions help you understand the concept better and instead of confusing yourself with doubts, your study group members can clear up your confusion and also help you understand any concept that you may have missed. Studying in a group also inspires you as you see how hard the other aspirants are working. You yourself get motivated to match them, thus putting your heart and soul into the examination. Make sure that the group you chose has all sincere students who will take you closer to your dreams.
- Minimize distractions: A quick peek into Facebook or youtube can eventually take away 1-2 hrs from your preparation time. Wasting so much time on such unproductive activities not only distracts your mind from the exam but also makes you pity your own life, and traps you into the loop of ‘how everyone is enjoying while you are sitting here studying’. One must understand that the seeds you sow today will only bear fruit tomorrow. So you need to have patience during the time you spend on ESE or GATE preparation so that it gives you the fruits of success later. Therefore besides social media distractions, stay away from negative people who instead of working hard themselves would enjoy pulling you down and demoralizing you. Thus, avoid anything that will take you away from your goal of cracking the exam.
A healthy body breeds a healthy mind:
- Stay Active: Only because you are busy with ESE or GATE preparation can you put your health at stake. You may not be able to join the gym or go running for long hours, but make sure that you are active and healthy. You can go for a walk in the evening, meditate in the morning or just do some home exercises for 15-30 mins every morning. Staying active will help you stay focused on your studies. Only when you are healthy will your brain be active and your studies will be on point. Also, make sure your posture is correct while studying. Do not be lousy while studying, as this will cause pain in your neck and shoulder and you will lose focus.
- Stay Hydrated: Busy and engrossed in their books, most of the students forget to drink water. By no chance, you should miss out on the water in your daily routine. Staying hydrated is extremely important for your body, stomach, and brain. If you are one of those who forget to drink water, keep an alarm on your phone that reminds you at regular intervals to keep yourself hydrated. . Start your day with a glass of warm water and make sure to drink at least 2-3 liters of water every day. This will keep you active and not make you miserable.
- Take proper rest: While one is supposed to make the best use of the time of day during preparation, skipping sleep or not taking proper rest is not a good habit to have. While you expect your brain to work and cooperate with you during the preparation, make sure you do so too. Take proper sleep of 6-8 hrs, take proper breaks between your studies, and make sure to splash your eyes to keep them hydrated too. Thus, though time management is important, do not forget to add BREAK TIME to your schedule.
- Eat well: Food is like fuel for the body. So make sure you keep your body working by providing it with good fuel. While junk food is delicious to eat, restrict its use. Replace your chips and cold drinks with fruits and juices. This will keep you active and also help keep you fit. While preparing, students in order to save money and time opt for junk food which after some time can take a huge toll on their health and further waste their time. So it is better to be careful beforehand instead of regretting your decision later.
There is no magic spell or key secret to staying focused throughout the ESE or GATE preparation journey. The above points of good preparation, good company, and good health will always keep you confident and thus be the stimulus for you to keep going. Though the examination is extremely necessary, always remember that your hard work and dedication always give rewards. Therefore, do not let ESE or GATE preparation be your life, make it a part of your life only then can you enjoy the beautiful honor it will bring you. Keep in mind to always stay healthy and active and success will be yours.
FAQ:
1. Is it possible to prepare for ESE/IES along with GATE?
Ans. Yes, it is possible to prepare for both exams together as the syllabus for both exams is more or less the same. It’s just the approach of the examination that needs to be taken into consideration. MADE EASY has recently launched a classroom course for ESE+GATE 2024 that will help you prepare from the examination perspective. For more details, you can visit www.madeeasy.in.
Exam Preparation Books:
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