Preparing for CAT is more than a process that takes a few months. It is a journey. There has never been an aspirant who has gone through this journey without any problems. There are many times when you feel defeated and want to give up. This is when you can make a difference. It will be a win-win situation. The best way to learn non-linear storytelling is through CAT preparation. Preparation is not always smooth and the process keeps moving back and forth like an oscillator. This is usually when candidates begin to doubt their strategies and methods and find gaps in their performance on mocks or general preparation. The other side of the equation is where the pressure builds up, so there is an attempt to decrease the load. This continues for the duration of your preparation for the CAT exam.
Definition of a bad phase during CAT preparation
There are many reasons why your CAT preparation might go wrong. The reasons can vary from one person to the next. The current pandemic is making people more stressed. It's all people talk about, and everyone has been living a very quiet life for more than a decade. Many people are now aware of it in various intensities. Another factor is the exam for freshers, who have not completed their under-graduation. It could also be stress at work, for those working and aspiring to crack the CAT. It is all part of us, and we've been there. Combining 2 or more of these factors can lead to a bad phase in CAT preparation.
Let's take the example of a young man named X who is currently pursuing under-graduation. He is also studying in his final semester. His group of friends are not helping him with a project he has to finish. While they may not be preparing to take the CAT, X may. He must take the time to prepare and complete the project. The end-of-semester exams are also on his head. His mocks scores are dropping. He's also seeing a decrease in the number of mocks he attempts. The process takes between 7-10 days, which frustrates the man. He managed to score a mock but not enough due to stress.
Another example is a guy named Y who works in an IT company and is part of a critical project that must be completed in a week. Your team already has one guy who is unavailable due to personal commitments. Two guys have to complete the task in one week. The other person may or not be preparing for the CAT, but Y may. The work is increasing and the days are getting shorter, not only for the project deadline but also for CAT preparation. He agrees to work for the project 11 hours per day. He ends up having to stay awake until 10 on Saturday to finish the project. This is despite his hopes of being able to study for the CAT this weekend. He doesn't know what he should do. His mind is about burst.
What are our current positions?
This is also known as the bad phase of CAT preparation. This could be because you are tired, disinterested, or lacking motivation. What's the next step? Now comes the dilemma. The candidate thinks that I should either sit for the person right away or that I should take some time to reflect on where I am going.
There are ways to deal with this situation
- READ
If you don't know what to do, read. You can pick up a book or a series of blogs about a topic that interests you and continue reading. You can relax and take a break from all the stress of your daily life. Reading a novel can transport you to another world, and it helps you forget about your problems and stress. You can clear your mind. This will allow you to focus more on your primary goal and help you concentrate better.
- Solve Puzzles
It might seem strange or unwelcome to do this in such a setting, but it is actually quite normal. Your brain might be stimulated by solving Sudoku, Rubik cubes or playing online chess. It will help you to feel refreshed for the days ahead. Avoid negative habits. You should do anything that gives you an energy boost. You can win the easiest game and still feel the positive energy when you go to bed.
Some people enjoy solving puzzles and are skilled at it. Some people don't like it, but this can be achieved. This habit can be taught to your mind.
- Physical and Mental Exercises
A bad temper, or vice-versa, can lead to emotions building up inside. If you want to begin the next phase in CAT Prep, you need to be able to release all of that energy. You can lose energy by exercising. A few minutes of yoga, some jogging, or deep breathing could be done. You might be ready to take on your CAT preparation by showering.
- Do something that may seem boring
Most of the time, or at least during this pandemic, our mental energy is exhausted. However, our physical vitality is still available to tap into. There are two options: You can choose to do work that isn't too mentally demanding but which requires physical labour, or something that doesn’t require too much mental strain. You can also take sectional tests in your favourite subject or topic as preparation. If you are not feeling the CAT preparation, take a break and do other things while you wait. You can work on your current project or prepare for the end semester exams. You will feel better in a few days and you can prepare for the exam. This is what you could call a "trade-off" where you use your time to prepare for tomorrow.
- Plan your strategy
You can make a plan for your exam preparation if you're going through a difficult phase. You will be more involved and it will help you to know that you aren't wasting your time and doing things that will benefit you in the long term. Preparing your strategy and timetable for taking mocks over the next few days is important. This strategy works well for me. If you feel frustrated or unable to focus on solving problems because you feel overwhelmed, you can create a plan for your preparation. This will help you not only to create a solid preparation structure but also allows you to return to the game of play. After preparing a plan for a few days, you will feel excited to implement it. Your preparation will then be back on track. Best Online CAT coaching
- Rest well
When you are going through a difficult time, sleep is crucial. This is because you may consider it the least important thing, when in fact it is the most crucial. Don't assume that you can still finish your CAT preparations late at night if you are stressed. Do not open a book for the sake. You should only do it if you are certain you will get something out of your time. It is highly recommended that you sleep 7 to 8 hours per night. You don't need to be a slave to your mind if you know that reading at 1 am with a stressed mind won't help you. You can only plan for the next day and then go to bed. You can't do anything on that day.
- Remember: It's just an exam
It is important to remember that you can live your life after CAT with a good score. This is how you should approach this phase. Do not set unrealistic goals and risk disappointment. You can actually de-stress by saying "Hey!" This is not the most important thing in my life." You should not be setting unrealistic goals for yourself. It will fall tomorrow if it isn't falling into place today. I cannot be both Batman AND Superman simultaneously. I can have modest goals for myself, and try my best.
Last words
Bad CAT preparation can lead to a lot of stress. The bad news about stress is that you will feel it. Sometimes you feel too invested in passing this exam. It can feel like something is preventing you from breathing, and every data point you receive goes against you. It happens to everyone, even the top of the exam. Everybody feels the pain of missing their mark and falling behind. It can be personal or communal. Keep the above-mentioned points at heart and never stop working. Stress can be managed if you work hard. In this competitive exam environment, the best way to manage stress is to just show up and work. You should strive to get through all the ups and downs. At the end of the day, you should be capable of looking in the mirror and saying that I tried my best and put a lot of effort into this exam. It's great if it goes my way. But if it doesn’t, it's okay. It won't make you feel bad that your efforts weren't as high as you would have liked.
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