The Magic Potion That Will Help You Manage CAT Preparation Stress!

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All set to swing into action? But putting in tons of hours studying each week can be a drag. Aspirants often experience sweaty palms, heart palpitations, and irregular sleep patterns. However, this is the time to feel motivated and not stressed. It is important to manage this stress and find little ways to eliminate the risk of burnout. Here, we have 15 ways to manage the CAT preparation stress.

1. Set SMART goals

It is good to be goal-driven but do not overload yourself with false expectations. Just working hard won’t take you anywhere worthwhile. You need to build SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Hence, if you think your goals are unrealistic, you should revise your goal.

2. Accept failure and build confidence

Instead of losing hope after securing low marks in mocks or not being able to follow your schedule, embrace your failure. To succeed you have to acknowledge how many times you have failed and the number of times you emerged smarter and better. 

3. Be the CEO of your brain

Work according to your capacity. Devise a timetable for CAT preparation as per your efficiency. Don't follow your friends' schedules just because they are performing better. They might have their strengths and weaknesses and you also might not be aware of how much time and effort they are putting in. Also, everyone's grasp is different. It is best to analyze where you are going wrong and fix it before it's too late.

4. Take breaks to study more

It doesn't imply abandoning all self-discipline. Take a 5-minute break every 40 minutes. Stretch your legs, grab some coffee, take a stroll, and get back to your work with a refreshed and more focused mind. As they say, all work and no play make Johnny a dull boy! 

5. Don't skip meals

We often become overly dedicated to achieving our goals. We end up losing track of time and missing meals. This is a big no-no. To run the marathon of belling the CAT one needs a healthy and well-nourished mind, body, and soul. Also, when your brain is starving, it gives you the feeling of being tired and irritable. This can affect your ability to concentrate, hence may hamper your performance.

6. Realize the power of the present

Follow your daily targets rigorously. Do not think about what will happen after a month, or how you will perform in the next mock, or what will happen on the day of the exam. Concentrate on the 24 hours you have in a day and make the most of it. You will automatically be one step closer to success.

7. Reduce your sugar intake 

Prefer consuming fruit juices as a source of sugar instead of refined sugar. This is because excess refined sugar can affect your focus, mood, memory, and emotional and mental balance, and might increase stress levels. On the other hand, the naturally occurring sugars in fruit juices can offer the much-needed glucose that the mind needs to function. 

8. Pen down your worries

Do you know writing down things that you are nervous about helps lessen your anxiety? Writing down your apprehensions will make you more focused on gradually eliminating those issues, helping you perform better in your exams. So whether it is your fear of a particular topic or lack of confidence, pen it down and analyze how you can deal with it. Try this in your next mock or sectional test!

9. Comparison is your enemy

It is good to discuss questions and strategies with peers but never compare your preparation with them. This will only elevate stress levels. Focus on your plan and be your own competitor. Try to perform better every day and break your own benchmarks.

10. Give rest to your mind and body

Every aspirant is tempted to be an all-nighter and study more than others. But is this strategy beneficial in the long run? Sleep affects how well you perform when you are awake. It plays a crucial role in learning and memorizing. Taking a minimum of 6-hour sleep is a must to stay away from exam stress.\

11. Benefits of exercise and meditation

Did you know that when you exercise the heart and sweat glands go into overdrive and they stimulate the area of the brain involved in verbal memory and learning? Hence, exercising on a daily basis for at least 15-20 minutes is vital. If physical exercise is not your thing, you can meditate. If you want to manage CAT preparation stress, nothing can be more effective than meditating. Focus on your breath and soon the stream of jumbled thoughts that are crowding your mind will fade away.

12. Work in a simulated environment

If you are worried about the D-day, start giving mocks or practicing for CAT in an exam-simulated environment. You should give the mock just like the final exam, without any breaks and with the same mindset. Gradually, the fear of giving CAT will vanish into thin air.

13. Reduce your phone usage

If you are able to curb distractions, especially the ones caused by mobile phones, you are already ahead of your peers. Tame your mind to use social media only for a fixed interval of time. Start with simply switching off your phone internet and then move on to turning off the notifications from WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or any socializing platform while studying. To be able to boast of a high CAT percentile, you need to steer clear of social media. 

14. Your schedule needs a buffer

One excellent way to manage CAT preparation stress is to keep a backup plan ready. It is not necessary that everything will happen according to your schedule. It could be as small as downtime due to flu or as big as a family emergency.  Hence, a backup will be helpful in unforeseen situations. 

15. Don’t multitask

Multitasking is one of the factors that increase stress levels. You may not realize this, but it reduces the quality of your work. To combat this, make a list of your tasks, prioritize them, and focus on completing them one by one with full dedication.

Bonus: Repeat the following 10 powerful affirmations to yourself and see the magic gradually. You can make your own list of positive affirmations. However, do not use any negative words in it.

• I feel good today
• I am prepared for whatever comes my way 
• I am going to perform well in today’s test
• I will try my best at everything I do
• I believe in myself
• I believe I can do anything
• I will stick to my schedule
• I am becoming more focused
• I am developing self-discipline
• I will learn from my mistakes

Just remember that in this entire journey of cracking CAT, focus on progress and not perfection. Do not think you are not good enough or you may not be able to crack CAT just because of low scores in tests as compared to others. And avoid shortcuts, there are none if you want to be successful. So, jump on the bandwagon, keep improving yourself, and write your own success story!

Good luck with your preparation.

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