Hello 2021 aspirants. I thought it would be nice if we can share what we are doing and intend to do with one another here.
This could be a thread for discussing everything prep for 2021.
No one method fits all but to see the plans and progress made by fellow aspirants might help with the finer details of preparation and also keep one on track.
Moderator Update: This thread has crossed 1 million views and has thousands of comments slowing down the website. We are closing this and moving to the next thread
22.01.2021 Updates:
Shankar Hindu DNA -
Factly + This day in history -
Finish Numerical Analysis -
Start ODE -
Numerical Analysis took too much time. Hadn't estimated so. At least it is finished.
23.01.2021 Targets :
Shankar Hindu DNA for 22.01.2021 + 23.01.2021
Factly + This day in history - 22.01.2021 + 23.01.2021
Ordinary Differential Equations - 50 pages
23 January Targets
- 9 AM - 11 AM Geo Lecture - 1
- 11:30 AM - 2 PM Eco Lecture - 1
- 4 PM to 6 PM Spectrum - 2 chapters
- 7 PM to 10 PM Backlogs
January 24 Targets
Complete whatever was left yesterday. I am having a killer headache from the past 2 days and it has impacted my concentration. I still sit in front of the computer and try to do my level best but the output isn't there. Let me know if you have any tips.
23/01/2021
5-8: sfg
10-11: Newspaper
Break due to Safai abhiyan. Guest aa rahe hai to mujhe hi guest room me shift kiya ja raha hai :)
Then litti chokha and movie with family members (this has become a kind of ritual on Saturday)
Tomorrow's Target: Modern History answer writing and Optional.
I get you. Guests are coming today and I need to help as much as I can.
I have always wanted to try litti chokha, it is so nice that you were able to enjoy time with your family as well
Best of luck for today
23/01/2021
5-8: sfg
10-11: Newspaper
Break due to Safai abhiyan. Guest aa rahe hai to mujhe hi guest room me shift kiya ja raha hai :)
Then litti chokha and movie with family members (this has become a kind of ritual on Saturday)
Tomorrow's Target: Modern History answer writing and Optional.
I get you. Guests are coming today and I need to help as much as I can.
I have always wanted to try litti chokha, it is so nice that you were able to enjoy time with your family as wellBest of luck for today
Thank you. LBSNAA me milke banayenge. 😋
23 January Targets
- 9 AM - 11 AM Geo Lecture - 1
- 11:30 AM - 2 PM Eco Lecture - 1
- 4 PM to 6 PM Spectrum - 2 chapters
- 7 PM to 10 PM Backlogs
January 24 Targets
Complete whatever was left yesterday. I am having a killer headache from the past 2 days and it has impacted my concentration. I still sit in front of the computer and try to do my level best but the output isn't there. Let me know if you have any tips.
Have you tried meditation, ever? I used to have really bad migraines in my childhood, but it went away when I learnt meditation. Its really helpful. Recently, my mother was having bad headaches consistently, and on my advice, she tried meditation and it went away slowly.
Going by your name, thistooshallpass, which is a buddhist slogan (in the Theravada tradition), I'm sure you must be aware of their philosophy. Well, they have left mankind with a really nice meditation technique as well, mindfullness meditation. Try it sometime, it works wonders. Its really simple too, you just have to observe your breath continuously (you might want to start with a time of 20 mins. and gradually extend the time period).
Apart from healing your headaches, the meditation will increase your attention span and focus as well. I say this by experience. Hope it helps.
23.01.2021 Updates (Unproductive day):
Shankar Hindu DNA (22.01.2021 + 23.01.2021)-
Factly for 22.01.2021 + 23.01.2021 -
This day in History - 2 personalities/events (Swami Vivekananda + Vellore Mutiny) -
Ordinary Differential Equations - (20 pages only)
24.01.2021 Targets:
Shankar Hindu DNA (24.01.2021)
Weekly Shankar DNA Notes revision
Weekly Factly revision
ODE - 30 pages
How do you meditate?23 January Targets
- 9 AM - 11 AM Geo Lecture - 1
- 11:30 AM - 2 PM Eco Lecture - 1
- 4 PM to 6 PM Spectrum - 2 chapters
- 7 PM to 10 PM Backlogs
January 24 Targets
Complete whatever was left yesterday. I am having a killer headache from the past 2 days and it has impacted my concentration. I still sit in front of the computer and try to do my level best but the output isn't there. Let me know if you have any tips.
Have you tried meditation, ever? I used to have really bad migraines in my childhood, but it went away when I learnt meditation. Its really helpful. Recently, my mother was having bad headaches consistently, and on my advice, she tried meditation and it went away slowly.
Going by your name, thistooshallpass, which is a buddhist slogan (in the Theravada tradition), I'm sure you must be aware of their philosophy. Well, they have left mankind with a really nice meditation technique as well, mindfullness meditation. Try it sometime, it works wonders. Its really simple too, you just have to observe your breath continuously (you might want to start with a time of 20 mins. and gradually extend the time period).
Apart from healing your headaches, the meditation will increase your attention span and focus as well. I say this by experience. Hope it helps.
I tried doing it several but turns out I would either get sleepy or would get up very soon.
Any app or technique which you follow?
How do you meditate?23 January Targets
- 9 AM - 11 AM Geo Lecture - 1
- 11:30 AM - 2 PM Eco Lecture - 1
- 4 PM to 6 PM Spectrum - 2 chapters
- 7 PM to 10 PM Backlogs
January 24 Targets
Complete whatever was left yesterday. I am having a killer headache from the past 2 days and it has impacted my concentration. I still sit in front of the computer and try to do my level best but the output isn't there. Let me know if you have any tips.
Have you tried meditation, ever? I used to have really bad migraines in my childhood, but it went away when I learnt meditation. Its really helpful. Recently, my mother was having bad headaches consistently, and on my advice, she tried meditation and it went away slowly.
Going by your name, thistooshallpass, which is a buddhist slogan (in the Theravada tradition), I'm sure you must be aware of their philosophy. Well, they have left mankind with a really nice meditation technique as well, mindfullness meditation. Try it sometime, it works wonders. Its really simple too, you just have to observe your breath continuously (you might want to start with a time of 20 mins. and gradually extend the time period).
Apart from healing your headaches, the meditation will increase your attention span and focus as well. I say this by experience. Hope it helps.
I tried doing it several but turns out I would either get sleepy or would get up very soon.I even downloaded various apps. But uninstalled them soon. Though Simple habit is good. It offers guided meditation. There are some really good guides but I end up listening to them more as a podcast and less as a guided mediation.
Any app or technique which you follow?
Try Waking Up by Sam Harris. If you can't afford it, then you can just request a free subscription which they will provide without any questions. It has sections for both practicing and the theory behind meditation as well. I've loved using it.
Yeah, sure I'll share my technique. You don't need any app/ music/ guided meditation podcast to concentrate. They just distract you, and break your concentration. First of all, you need a comfortable posture in which you can sit still for a sufficiently long period of time with your spine erect, so that you don't fall asleep. Sitting cross-legged is fine, but it tends the back to slack. Padmasana/ardha padmasana is a good alternative. It can be a bit difficult at first, but try bending your legs daily and slowly you'll be able to sit in the posture for about half an hour in about a month (I also learnt it by practice recently, about six months ago).
Reference :
Also note that you will be able to concentrate easily if you fix some time for meditation in your daily schedule. The best suitable times are Early morning and evening. You need to be empty stomach so that you don't fall asleep.
Now coming to the actual practice, sit in a comfortable posture, with lights switched off/dimmed. Set an alarm/timer on your phone, or any such device (I use my wristwatch), and don't get up till the timer rings (An initial time of 20 mins. is good enough, gradually you can extend it to an hour/50 mins. if you are able to maintain concentration and your mind doesn't wander). Now, close your eyes and sit still. Try to observe your breath. By observing the breath, I mean observe the sensations that accompany the breath. Two most commonly used spots by the Buddhist tradition are the nostrils and the stomach. The stomach is easier to observe in the begining, later as your concentration gets more powerful, you can carefully observe the subtle sensations that accompany each incoming and outgoing breath. If you are observing the stomach, feel the stomach expanding and contracting with each breath. No thoughts, no analysis just observation. Silently count 'one' when one inhalation/exhalation cycle is complete. Then count 'two'. Continue till ten, and then go back to one. If any thought comes in between, for example when you were counting 3, start again from the begining, i.e. 'one'. Try to sit still without distractions. If some distraction occurs for example some itching sensation or slight pain somewhere, ignore it if possible to the extent that it does not affect your meditation. Continue for some time and you will feel relaxed and happy. Reference :
There's another method too. If you have some cyclically repeating/constant sound in your surroundings, you can focus on that and observe it fully, keeping your attention intact without digressing into thoughts. For example there's a wall clock in my room. The second hand on the clock makes a tick sound with every passing second. I focus on the ticking sound. With each tick, I count one, two and so on, starting again from one after reaching ten. The critical note here is that you must remain with the sound and try your best that you count with every tick sound and not independently of the constant sound.
These were the buddhist techniques, which are also known as mindfullness meditation. There are yogic/ Hindu ways of meditation too that differ a bit. While I am not aware of the intricate yogic meditation techniques, which involve visualizations/ kriya, (If you are interested, try reading the book: A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya, its quite comprehensive) I have tried the mantra meditation. For this, choose a mantra of your choice, for example, Om namah shivay, or Om namo narayanaya or Hare Krishna mantra used by the ISCON devotees. Then, silently repeat the mantra rhythmically a fixed number of times. People find malas useful for this. Again, take care that your mind does not wander and remains strictly on the words/sounds of the mantras. If you have never heard the mantra before, repeating it loudly (just audible to you) initially for a few days might be helpful.
People follow different techniques that are suited to their personal needs/ personalities. I initially used to follow mantra meditation, but later I switched to mindfullness meditation, as I find it easier for me as my mind wanders lesser during the later. You need to try one method for a sufficient time before switching to another (say a month). Also switch only if you don't find comfort in one method. Another thing to know is that as in all things in life, practice is the key. Initially, your mind may be in such tumult that you find it irritating/frustrating to sit still with your eyes closed for even 20 mins. But don't leave the practice, stick by it and slowly you will find peace and joy instead of frustration.