6 Month to UPSC CSE 2023!!
UPSC CSE 2023
"konsi manhoos ghadi mein maine socha the ki main apni zindagi UPSC ko samarpit krta hun"! Well, halfway through the year, many of us must be getting these thoughts of self- doubt, depressive states, anxiety and what not... Let me burst the bubble! You are not alone!
Ek toh yeh mid-year tak ka safar and oopar se yeh sardi ka baimaan mausam may be the culprits! And it is natural to feel this way given the brutal nature of the exam.
However, in order to manage this state of depression, stress and panic attacks, it is important to understand what the underlying causes are.
“It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it”
-Hans Selye
First of all, stress can make your naiya go aar or paar. Eustress, a kind of "good stress" is actually a motivator which drives you to work hard and achieve certain things. For example, in group studies, the stress to learn and recall when quizzing each other is eustress as it release the "reward chemical" Dopamine! Whereas, when some kind of stress is getting you negative bodily/ emotional response, it is "distress". Hence, it is very important to identify if the stress you are experiencing is good or bad.
Now, to identify the nature of stress, we need to identify the causative factors behind it, which can be manifold. To begin with, comparing oneself to others' preparation can constantly give panic attacks, lack of preparation can be another factor. Moreover, nowadays, thanks to our Google Devta, there are multiple sources to study from. And just clicking on one link leads us to another and another, creating an endless cycle of browsing through content, increasing the stress levels.
On top of that, as studying requires long sitting hours, disruption in sleep schedule and other lifestyle alterations, the body's natural circadian rhythm gets disturbed, hence, more stress at the cellular level, which may not be that noticeable in the beginning.
Also known as "Winter depression", Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes in seasonal pattern, typically starting in the late fall and continuing into the winter months. This may also be a reason to feel low and lethargic.
Which of the signs relate to you? In this case, what can be done?
STOP MULTIPLE SOURCES & START MULTIPLE REVISIONS
Well, to begin with, refrain from following multiple sources on the internet for concepts. It is better to revise from one source thoroughly, than to study from a new source every time. The brain is able to strengthen the concepts better when same content is revised time and again.
Also known as "Winter depression", Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes in seasonal pattern, typically starting in the late fall and continuing into the winter months. This may also be a reason to feel low and lethargic.
Which of the signs relate to you? In this case, what can be done?
Compete with yourself!
It is human nature to compare oneself to another person. However, everyone is on their own journey and progressing at their own pace. You may find someone preparing for 6 years or someone for 6 months. But, your focus should be to become a better version of yourself from the past day, where you have achieved your daily targets.
Tick it off!
Make a daily checklist of the things you want to cover that day. And make sure to tick off the completed tasks. Trust me, it feels so so satisfying with a burst of dopamine in the body, feeling accomplished to have completed a task.
You wanna... I wanna.. EXERCISE! Exercising, soaking yourself in the sun (ab toh thand a gyi.. Bask in the sun and have some roasted peanuts!) releases Serotonin which is a mood stabiliser. Even 20 minutes of stretching, walking or doing some kind of exercise makes the mind and body rejuvenated and fresh. Some simple breathing exercises can also be done to feel calm and relaxed.
Square breathing (Sama Vritti) : Inhale for 4 counts, filling up your lungs with air, hold for 4 counts and breathe out for 4 counts. This helps with stress, anxiety and sleeplessness. Practice some yoga asanas.
