Here’s how you can pass the UPSC while working full-time
It’ll be not easy, but it’s a goal that can be achieved. UPSC is not only one of the most difficult but also one of the most comprehensive exams in the world.
According to Mr. Sumanth Makam, who provides among the best UPSC coachings from Bangalore, a year-long exam needs two years to clear it.
As a result, UPSC aspirants who are also working professionals find it challenging to manage their time and complete the extensive syllabus.
Some of us have obligations to our families that we cannot ignore. You may be your family’s sole breadwinner.
Is it possible to juggle UPSC preparation and work pressures despite all of this? Not in the least. It’ll be not easy, but it’s a goal that can be achieved.
Because each aspirant only has 24 hours in a day, how they spend each hour determines their outcome.
Whether you’re having a good or bad day at work, you must cultivate the discipline to study every day. Either you control the day, or the day controls you.
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Choose a company that has set hours
Working in a company with five working days and a fixed duration of eight to nine hours is preferable.
This allows you to study for six hours, Monday through Friday, and approximately ten hours per day on weekends. If you do this for a year, you’ll be able to finish the entire syllabus.
Make slots in your study schedule
If you are a morning person, you can save two to three hours in the morning rather than six hours after a long day at work.
Many toppers have suggested reading up on current events while traveling to save time.
Know everything there is to know about your course
Mr. Sumanth Makam, an expert UPSC coach from Bangalore, advises, “Mark the topics you feel comfortable with and those you aren’t familiar with.”
Break down the syllabus into manageable chunks and rank them in order of importance.
Collect all of the necessary study materials for the course and begin studying them in order.
Determine where you require assistance – is it with the subject? Do you need help in organizing your course materials? Or are you unsure where to start?
Instead of going to a coaching institute, hire a personal mentor
Many working professionals enroll in coaching programs only to drop out after a few sessions.
They don’t seem to find a coaching center that fits their schedule.
A one-on-one mentor can fill this void. You can hire a mentor who has attended a UPSC interview to help you prepare.
In a mentorship arrangement, the aspirant receives guidance, motivation, and supervision to complete the day’s target modules.
The mentor works around the aspirant’s schedule and devises a strategy to implement.
They will assist you in determining which topics require more revision than others.
When we’re about to give up, we need someone to encourage us to keep going with our preparations.
Use time management techniques that are widely used
We are constantly trying to figure out how to organize our time better. The majority of UPSC aspirants use the Pomodoro technique.
The Pomodoro technique, created by consultant Francesco Cirillo, is a time management tool that divides work into 25-minute sessions to help you stay focused and get more done.
All you have to do is set a timer for 25 minutes, complete the task, and then take a 5-minute break.
You can take a 15-minute break once you’ve completed four tasks this way.
Studying while working is not a good idea
One of the mistakes aspirants make, according to Mr. Sumanth Makam, who runs a leading UPSC coaching center in Bangalore, is trying to squeeze in some study time while working.
While at the office, it would be beneficial if you always focused on completing the day’s tasks.
The sooner you finish your office work, the more time you’ll have at home to study.
Exercising is essential
Working and studying should not take up your entire day.
Taking care of your health is essential if you want to continue UPSC preparation in the long run.
A walk in the park after work would be an excellent way to transition from work mode to study mode.
Working aspirants have seen the world firsthand and dealt with various socio-economic and political issues. As a result, they are qualified to work as civil servants.
Time, syllabus, and stress management are the only obstacles they face. When they are unable to manage time, they become stressed and, as a result, mismanage time even more.
As a result, time and stress are intertwined as dimensions. Without the right strategy and mentorship, breaking this vicious cycle is complex.
