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CSE 2022: Plan/ Strategy/ Daily Routine

This is an everything thread for all stuff 2022. You can post your daily goals, end-of-the-day updates, weekly targets or any weird thing you use to measure your progress. You can put into words & post the soul-sucking sadness that is threatening to devour you & your productivity. You can write what made your day & let others experience the happiness too, at least vicariously. This is a thread to pick each other up. This is a thread to keep each other accountable. This is a no-judgement zone.

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“This is one more piece of advice I have for you: don't get impatient. Even if things are so tangled up you can't do anything, don't get desperate or blow a fuse and start yanking on one particular thread before it's ready to come undone. You have to realize it's going to be a long process and that you'll work on things slowly, one at a time.”

— Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood


jack_Sparrow,Fireheartand160 otherslike this
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@Thunderstorm  I can definitely relate to the feeling of what have I done today. I study something and then think do I really remember it ?

Why I am I taking so much time when I thought I could get it done in half the time it took me to complete it eventually.

It is good to vent out what you feel either in writing or call a supportive friend who understands where you are coming from. It helps me a lot, you can give it a try.

I feel lost when I think I haven't done anything tangible. Writing a test helps me get out of it. To see that what you read helps here. So, it is useful and you remember a decent part of it. If you don't, at least you know what you don't know. I still avoid writing tests soon because they scare me and I feel I am never prepared but they are also the best antidote to what have I done questions. Believe me, even if there is a self doubt, what we study helps even if we fail to realise at that moment.

Sorry if none of what I said helped you in anyway. I am sure you will find your rhythm soon and like you said, sometimes we are the only ones who can solve our problems. Just to let you know that it is relatable. 

Good luck and hope to see you on YPT soon :)

Archand,Rashmirathiand8 otherslike this
4.4k views
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This thread isn't just for educational purposes. It's for us (soviet anthem intensifies).

Firstly, It is not like you are going to be super productive every day. The point is to come back, keep the momentum and try to clock respectable amount of hours that actually adds marks to your final total. But the low is envitable. Keep a lower target for tommorow but achieve that. That itself will give you some confidence & start what one productivity writer called a "success spiral". 

About the the lack of calm and all. For me, I feel all this when I let too much of the world encroach upon my preparation. For me, in such times what works is this: go complete offline for some half a day and get some work done. I have felt so calm after this. Also, all notifications to be kept off, if you are getting distracted use blockers, block people who add nothing but negativity to your life or at least delete them from the contact list. 

Also, I wanted to say this in the morning itself, but I love the energy in your everyday posts. I know what it is, maybe it is the Caps lock that you so aggressively use but the energy is quite infectious. 

Firstly..Thank you so much bro..!! :)

Actually I have done this at the early stage of my preparation..(deleted all the contacts jinse negative vibes kaafi aati thi) strange thing was that only few people were there(including family)jinse positivity milti thi..

I took a break also..(thought ki let me think why all this is happening)….!! But found nothing....!! 

But..I'll try to set lower targets for tomorrow...:) 

Thank you for all the suggestions..:) @nerdfighter 

Xera,Archandand7 otherslike this
4.2k views

@Thunderstorm  I can definitely relate to the feeling of what have I done today. I study something and then think do I really remember it ?

Why I am I taking so much time when I thought I could get it done in half the time it took me to complete it eventually.

It is good to vent out what you feel either in writing or call a supportive friend who understands where you are coming from. It helps me a lot, you can give it a try.

I feel lost when I think I haven't done anything tangible. Writing a test helps me get out of it. To see that what you read helps here. So, it is useful and you remember a decent part of it. If you don't, at least you know what you don't know. I still avoid writing tests soon because they scare me and I feel I am never prepared but they are also the best antidote to what have I done questions. Believe me, even if there is a self doubt, what we study helps even if we fail to realise at that moment.

Sorry if none of what I said helped you in anyway. I am sure you will find your rhythm soon and like you said, sometimes we are the only ones who can solve our problems. Just to let you know that it is relatable. 

Good luck and hope to see you on YPT soon :)

@Rubi990 Thanks bro..:) It really helped me a lot..!! I opted to write rather than calling a friend cz I thought you guys can help me to figure out what I am actually going through..:) 

I am trying to get better and will be back on track soon..:) 

I can actually relate now..:) Thank you once again..:) 

Archand,Rashmirathiand6 otherslike this
4.2k views

Just wanted to put out an update since it has been a few days since I've been away from here. 


I finally managed to finish the first round of optional revision, going to begin the second round soon. While I'm glad I could finish it, the whole process has made me realise that a lot more needs to be done. Hoping that the second round helps in fine tuning the concerns. 


GS has been a little neglected in the past few weeks so I'm going to try and compensate for it now. Just need to be done with one last topic for GS1 before I shift to GS2. The next couple of days might be slow but I'll start posting regularly in 2-3 days again. 


Also, it is great seeing all of you putting in great efforts. Although I have slacked off a bit in the last two days on YPT, the community helps a lot in getting back on track. Thanking all the wonderful people who shake me despite all my procrastination, please keep it coming :)

sbhati,heisenberg_and9 otherslike this
4.1k views
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Finished day's targets

Month end review:

  • 3 part approach, a)before-pre b)after-pre c)after result
  • a) felt everything was in control, targets were too fluid to be tangibly tracked 
  • b) huge inertia to shift gears but gained a hold. Targets were 1)analysing pyqs 2)topper copies 3)round up sources for socio and gs 4)begin note-making. Finished first three, then prelims results happened and 4th got stuck.
  • c) targets were to 1)settle in for the long game 2)gain a broader viewpoint into things policy-wise and philosophy-wise. More or less done.

Targets for November:

  • 45 NCERTs (most have been done earlier or should be easily manageable)
  • 15 MGP half-tests
  • finish Socio notes skeleton
  • finish G.S. notes skeleton
  • no pressure for CA but bonus quest to command EPIC mags

Targets for tomorrow, day#3

  • The Hindu            (2hr)
  • Socio                    (3hr)
  • D.K.Balaji ethics  (maximum damage possible, no pressure)
  • 3 ncerts                (4hr)
  • answer writing     (1/2)

"Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase."

Good luck for the new month everyone 🤺

30 days gone. In a snap.

Targets audit: [a] few ncerts left [b] only 6 tests written [c] socio notes skeleton ready [d] g.s. notes part ready, part skeleton ready part just structure ready so would say 55% of target done [e] did 2 monthly mags.

I had over-scheduled(like always) but only by ensuring that my time is over-packed do I ensure that I don't fall into the famous unproductivity traps/spirals. 

Worked with what I'd say was 40% efficiency. So I choose to sit more hours to offset this.

It'll always be a sine curve. It's life. You read civilisational history or study any natural system, nothing is linear. Stoicism asks us to never complain, be virtuous etc etc. It's hard. But it also asks us to control the controllables. 

You'd all think why you failed 2021 if you had so much of wisdom? Because this exam is unforgiving and even 99% doesn't cut it. My mistake was not understanding my starting point properly. I thought I could do what another man had done. And that was do it in less time. But I didn't factor in a few things and it cost me. It's easy to ask what to read, which test series to solve, give me a daily routine, but you are unique, your starting point is different, so respect that. "Think for yourself" is the most useful dictum I can follow.

Neyawn said once, if something requires a surgery and you keep using Homeopathy, it won't cut it. So I will take off for 10 days to Vipassana from 4th Dec to 15th. It's about return on investment. Better give 10 days and correct yourself or waste months doing substandard work and only reach 99%. 

So much to write and so many strands of thought but the bottom line comes to this- there is a goal and there have to be the means to achieve it. There can be impediments. Break them down to the basest factors and cues and work on those. All the anecdotes and parables are useless if the morals are not put into action. There are no magic wands. No sheer moments of pure brilliance that can get you in that pdf unlike jee. The sheer scope of exam ensures that. 

Lastly I had one more observation-if anything excites competition or comparison, better to do away with it. YPT tends to do that sometimes without us realising. But again, do what works for you and think/decide for yourself.

Maybe the next week my productivity will be shit. But I will choose to think from the first principles and figure out the roadblocks and cut them loose. We failed prelims in October so we are already behind the clock. Do your surgeries and get back in the game. 

Targets for December:

  • Laxmikant, Spectrum, Monthly Mags
  • Mrunal/Ramesh Singh, Economic Surveys
  • 1 Environment Document
  • MGP as much possible
  • Socio notes beef up
  • G.S. notes beef up

I realise that there is no way I will be able to finish these with a 10 day hiatus but I will do my best to take big chunk outta these.

There is no sure way. And it gives rise to fear. But fear is the mindkiller. So it'll take some rising above the fear to get to executing. Have a fruitful month ahead fellow travellers. Let's be rational enough to make ourselves fit for Weber's bureaucracy and operate from first principles and put our best foot forward. 

Targets for tomorrow:

[a] CA [b] soc pyq paper(try to end) [c] 4 gs-1 society topics notes finish

I wrote too much :|   Ah well. 🐈

D503,Villanelleand13 otherslike this
4.1k views
» show previous quotes

30 days gone. In a snap.

Targets audit: [a] few ncerts left [b] only 6 tests written [c] socio notes skeleton ready [d] g.s. notes part ready, part skeleton ready part just structure ready so would say 55% of target done [e] did 2 monthly mags.

I had over-scheduled(like always) but only by ensuring that my time is over-packed do I ensure that I don't fall into the famous unproductivity traps/spirals. 

Worked with what I'd say was 40% efficiency. So I choose to sit more hours to offset this.

It'll always be a sine curve. It's life. You read civilisational history or study any natural system, nothing is linear. Stoicism asks us to never complain, be virtuous etc etc. It's hard. But it also asks us to control the controllables. 

You'd all think why you failed 2021 if you had so much of wisdom? Because this exam is unforgiving and even 99% doesn't cut it. My mistake was not understanding my starting point properly. I thought I could do what another man had done. And that was do it in less time. But I didn't factor in a few things and it cost me. It's easy to ask what to read, which test series to solve, give me a daily routine, but you are unique, your starting point is different, so respect that. "Think for yourself" is the most useful dictum I can follow.

Neywan said once, if something requires a surgery and you keep using Homeopathy, it won't cut it. So I will take off for 10 days to Vipassana from 4th Dec to 15th. It's about return on investment. Better give 10 days and correct yourself or waste months doing substandard work and only reach 99%. 

So much to write and so many strands of thought but the bottom line comes to this- there is a goal and there have to be the means to achieve it. There can be impediments. Break them down to the basest factors and cues and work on those. All the anecdotes and parables are useless if the morals are not put into action. There are no magic wands. No sheer moments of pure brilliance that can get you in that pdf unlike jee. The sheer scope of exam ensures that. 

Lastly I had one more observation-if anything excites competition or comparison, better to do away with it. YPT tends to do that sometimes without us realising. But again, do what works for you and think/decide for yourself.

Maybe the next week my productivity will be shit. But I will choose to think from the first principles and figure out the roadblocks and cut them loose. We failed prelims in October so we are already behind the clock. Do your surgeries and get back in the game. 

Targets for December:

  • Laxmikant, Spectrum, Monthly Mags
  • Mrunal/Ramesh Singh, Economic Surveys
  • 1 Environment Document
  • MGP as much possible
  • Socio notes beef up
  • G.S. notes beef up

I realise that there is no way I will be able to finish these with a 10 day hiatus but I will do my best to take big chunk outta these.

There is no sure way. And it gives rise to fear. But fear is the mindkiller. So it'll take some rising above the fear to get to executing. Have a fruitful month ahead fellow travellers. Let's be rational enough to make ourselves fit for Weber's bureaucracy and operate from first principles and put our best foot forward. 

Targets for tomorrow:

[a] CA [b] soc pyq paper(try to end) [c] 4 gs-1 society topics notes finish

I wrote too much :|   Ah well. 🐈

I am sure that the 10 day break would do a lot of good. You're taking it together, others take it a couple of days at a time but everyone takes breaks. The process isn't sustainable without breaks so there's no reason to feel any sort of guilt. I hope I'm not overstepping here, if so, please ignore whatever I've said. 


Have a good time! Looking forward to seeing you back here, reinvigorated :)

D503,Villanelleand12 otherslike this
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I am sure that the 10 day break would do a lot of good. You're taking it together, others take it a couple of days at a time but everyone takes breaks. The process isn't sustainable without breaks so there's no reason to feel any sort of guilt. I hope I'm not overstepping here, if so, please ignore whatever I've said. 


Have a good time! Looking forward to seeing you back here, reinvigorated :)

Guilt is a far possibility for me. I am excited as hell :DD

What's done is done. What went wrong is in past. We can't change it right? SO we will be putting ourselves at a disadvantage with our own actions. Now why would someone do that. 

With the prep we tend to have a narrow lens and forget to live life. I refuse to do that.

I always try to take control of 3 things around me: [a] energy [b] processes [c] narrative. Don't let anything else grab the driving seat. 😤
p.s.:Imma sleep now. See you on the morrow 🦾

heisenberg_,Archandand9 otherslike this
4k views

Ah Well, everyone talking! I should make my presence felt too. 

Sorry for not posting regularly, but schedules are being followed daily. Trying as much as I can to return to the same productivity levels as I used to be before prelims.

As Augustya said, what's done is done, what we have is the time now and we must wisely use that one or else failing ( if we want to say that) is what we would have for ourselves. 

December month has finally come, aim is completing GS + Optional. Lets see where we go!! 

Good luck folks and thank you all lovely people for nudging me on YPT. 


DM,ThePhenomand13 otherslike this
4.7k views

Targets for 1st December 2021:

  • Satish Chandra: Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagar, Bahmani Kingdom & Bhakti Movement (Study, Notes & Ankify)
  • PSIR: Justice (Complete Notes Consolidation, Ankify)
  • Write 5 Answers on the above
  • IR Current Readings (2 hours): New Cold War & related stuff
  • Anki Review 1 Hour
  • Newspaper
  • Declutter Room, Desktop and Mind. 
  • Sleep before 12.


heisenberg_,Archandand10 otherslike this
4.6k views

sbhatisaid

sbhatisaid

sbhatisaid

» show previous quotes» show previous quotes

Done, partially done (ended up reading Husserl but did not make notes), done.


Targets for today:

1. Insights CA + Editorial 27th nov

2. Husserl (Patanjali notes + plato.stanford + make notes)

3. Ethics (Balaji chapter 1 + make notes)

Done, partially done (starting to get some clarity on Husserl, yet to make notes), partially done 


Targets for today:

1. Understand Husserl 

2. Prepare definitions for all topics of ethics test 1 syllabus (1/2)

3. Write at least 2 answers from ethics from topper copies and compare

Partially done, not done, not done. Got stuck at trying to understand Husserl. I'll move on now and come back to Husserl later. Perhaps reading Heidegger and Sartre can help. 


Targets for today:

1. Newspaper

2. Insights CA + Editorial

3. Start Heidegger 

4. Sort out organisation of notes 

Done, done, done and done. 

Targets for today:

1. Newspaper

2. insights CA + editorial 

3. Continue Heidegger and start Sartre if possible 

4. Finish Ethics class 1

Archand,nerdfighterand8 otherslike this
3.8k views
Deleted
.
ThePhenom,sbhatiand10 otherslike this
4.4k views
Great perseverance man! These targets are really inspiring. 

P.S- Once you are back from the Vipassana course, do tell how it was, really want to go for it once.
Have a great time !


ThePhenom,nerdfighterand4 otherslike this
3.5k views

Okay I started out being intimidated by everyone's targets and posts here. I have been truly struggling to do this again for the 3rd time after missing the mains again this year. I am still to finish my optional notes (History)

I am 60 percent through Modern history. I feel like I am so slow and everyone seems to be doing so so so smoothly.

However, I am also inspired by the perseverance and dedication the forum brings. I shall borrow some of this from you guys.

The target for December:

1) Finish Modern notes

2) Finish World H notes

3) Revise Laxmikant, Geography Ncerts

4) Current Affairs Oct-Nov 2021

Phew! Thank you guys for being such awesomesauce badass people that you all are :)



sbhati,nerdfighterand7 otherslike this
3.3k views

AnaBeesaid

Okay I started out being intimidated by everyone's targets and posts here. I have been truly struggling to do this again for the 3rd time after missing the mains again this year. I am still to finish my optional notes (History)

I am 60 percent through Modern history. I feel like I am so slow and everyone seems to be doing so so so smoothly.

However, I am also inspired by the perseverance and dedication the forum brings. I shall borrow some of this from you guys.

The target for December:

1) Finish Modern notes

2) Finish World H notes

3) Revise Laxmikant, Geography Ncerts

4) Current Affairs Oct-Nov 2021

Phew! Thank you guys for being such awesomesauce badass people that you all are :)



I used to be intimidated too. And I have just started posting again after almost a month of being away from studies. But, it is okay. What I have realised is, nothing today determines how I am going to do on the day of the exam. At the end, it won't matter how much hours did I study for on 1st dec 2021, or in the month of December, or how many tests I wrote. What will matter finally is the cumulative, and how prepared I am and how prepared I feel on the day of the examination. So, small targets everyday, over the course of months, and the rest will take care of itself. 

BorntobeIFS,THE_MECHANICand5 otherslike this
3.3k views
» show previous quotes

Finished day's targets

Month end review:

  • 3 part approach, a)before-pre b)after-pre c)after result
  • a) felt everything was in control, targets were too fluid to be tangibly tracked 
  • b) huge inertia to shift gears but gained a hold. Targets were 1)analysing pyqs 2)topper copies 3)round up sources for socio and gs 4)begin note-making. Finished first three, then prelims results happened and 4th got stuck.
  • c) targets were to 1)settle in for the long game 2)gain a broader viewpoint into things policy-wise and philosophy-wise. More or less done.

Targets for November:

  • 45 NCERTs (most have been done earlier or should be easily manageable)
  • 15 MGP half-tests
  • finish Socio notes skeleton
  • finish G.S. notes skeleton
  • no pressure for CA but bonus quest to command EPIC mags

Targets for tomorrow, day#3

  • The Hindu            (2hr)
  • Socio                    (3hr)
  • D.K.Balaji ethics  (maximum damage possible, no pressure)
  • 3 ncerts                (4hr)
  • answer writing     (1/2)

"Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase."

Good luck for the new month everyone 🤺

30 days gone. In a snap.

Targets audit: [a] few ncerts left [b] only 6 tests written [c] socio notes skeleton ready [d] g.s. notes part ready, part skeleton ready part just structure ready so would say 55% of target done [e] did 2 monthly mags.

I had over-scheduled(like always) but only by ensuring that my time is over-packed do I ensure that I don't fall into the famous unproductivity traps/spirals. 

Worked with what I'd say was 40% efficiency. So I choose to sit more hours to offset this.

It'll always be a sine curve. It's life. You read civilisational history or study any natural system, nothing is linear. Stoicism asks us to never complain, be virtuous etc etc. It's hard. But it also asks us to control the controllables. 

You'd all think why you failed 2021 if you had so much of wisdom? Because this exam is unforgiving and even 99% doesn't cut it. My mistake was not understanding my starting point properly. I thought I could do what another man had done. And that was do it in less time. But I didn't factor in a few things and it cost me. It's easy to ask what to read, which test series to solve, give me a daily routine, but you are unique, your starting point is different, so respect that. "Think for yourself" is the most useful dictum I can follow.

Neyawn said once, if something requires a surgery and you keep using Homeopathy, it won't cut it. So I will take off for 10 days to Vipassana from 4th Dec to 15th. It's about return on investment. Better give 10 days and correct yourself or waste months doing substandard work and only reach 99%. 

So much to write and so many strands of thought but the bottom line comes to this- there is a goal and there have to be the means to achieve it. There can be impediments. Break them down to the basest factors and cues and work on those. All the anecdotes and parables are useless if the morals are not put into action. There are no magic wands. No sheer moments of pure brilliance that can get you in that pdf unlike jee. The sheer scope of exam ensures that. 

Lastly I had one more observation-if anything excites competition or comparison, better to do away with it. YPT tends to do that sometimes without us realising. But again, do what works for you and think/decide for yourself.

Maybe the next week my productivity will be shit. But I will choose to think from the first principles and figure out the roadblocks and cut them loose. We failed prelims in October so we are already behind the clock. Do your surgeries and get back in the game. 

Targets for December:

  • Laxmikant, Spectrum, Monthly Mags
  • Mrunal/Ramesh Singh, Economic Surveys
  • 1 Environment Document
  • MGP as much possible
  • Socio notes beef up
  • G.S. notes beef up

I realise that there is no way I will be able to finish these with a 10 day hiatus but I will do my best to take big chunk outta these.

There is no sure way. And it gives rise to fear. But fear is the mindkiller. So it'll take some rising above the fear to get to executing. Have a fruitful month ahead fellow travellers. Let's be rational enough to make ourselves fit for Weber's bureaucracy and operate from first principles and put our best foot forward. 

Targets for tomorrow:

[a] CA [b] soc pyq paper(try to end) [c] 4 gs-1 society topics notes finish

I wrote too much :|   Ah well. 🐈

Kinda good start to the month.

Soc paper will end tomorrow. Rest done

02/12/21 Day#33 Targets~[a] CA [b] soc paper 2017(last day) [c] gs-notes streamlining

Have a good day folks 🦖

theskyisthelimit,THE_MECHANICand4 otherslike this
3.2k views

Had a very inefficient day today, need to get some accountability for a few days again, so I'm back for a while :)


1. Newspaper backlogs

2. Consti admin tests- finish in priority

3. CA consolidation as much as possible 


Have a productive day everyone!


ThePhenom,Archandand7 otherslike this
3.2k views

Seeing everyone making commitments awakened the aspirant in me xD. So here I am, but, I will do it directly for a month instead. Posting daily feels a drag to me ( read it lazy ). Moreover a downward spiral is seems to be in my way to productivity :( 

Btw thank you YPT people to constantly nudge me, I really appreciate it, and its feel great to see people regularly clocking good amount of hours. I hope its helping everyone, in one way or other.

So here are my targets for Dec 2021, which I believe writing here will knock a sense of accountability in me

1.PSIR - 1A,1B, 2A

2. GS1 consolidation of notes

3. Complete plethora of CA lectures 

I know it looks less comparatively , but that's it XD. Putting ambitious targets sometimes may have negative implications on productivity xP

I sincerely hope you all will have a productive day, week and month. Meet you guys at YPT, probably nudging xD

Yours truly.


P.S.-Putting some lines here, might give a push to you :)

क्‍या हार में क्‍या जीत में
किंचित नहीं भयभीत मैं
संधर्ष पथ पर जो मिले यह भी सही वह भी सही।
वरदान माँगूँगा नहीं।।



DM,heisenberg_and9 otherslike this
3.3k views
.
THE_MECHANIC,Thunderstorm
3k views

Targets for 2nd December 2021:

  • Medieval India, ideally all of it, butat least 70% of it
  • All Art & Culture Handouts overlapping with Medieval (Ideally all of it, but at least 70% of it)
  • Write 10 answers on the above
  • Anki Review 1 hour

___

This is going to be a long long day but I really need get things done. All the best, everyone.

THE_MECHANIC,Jiraiyaand2 otherslike this
3.9k views
@sbhati Thank you! You are absolutely right. The cumulative is what matters. One step, one day at a time. 
Have the best day today!


THE_MECHANIC,Thunderstorm
2.8k views
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