CSE 2021: Plan / Strategy / Daily Routine
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
How are people completing 100% of the day's targets? Like how many hours one is devoting?
By keeping realistic targets.
Again realistic means different levels at different times. Right now, I'm not too motivated to study. So I'm setting smaller targets which can be achieved even if I waste half the day. The daily small victories keep me going.
A time will soon come when I'll be more pumped up (most likely because the exam dates are too near). Then I'll be setting targets that can be achieved only with putting in really good hours daily. Some people here are already at that stage and you can see them putting in 8+ hours daily. All power to them.
As you see, there's no fixed formula as such. Just do what you think is best.
@Villanelle &@thesleepyhead both of you are just humble. Your targets are quite ambitious, IMO. And everyday both of you manage to complete them without a sweat and manage to chill too.
😅 I think for us it’s been mostly about being in the groove. 3-4 hours padhai + newspaper before lunch and 3-4 hours padhai after lunch before tea takes care of Optional and GS portion. Then 6 onwards it’s chill - bas CA, and thoda random answer writing. This should be okay jab tak solely prelims prep ni hai.
Breaking down syllabus helps big time. More than anything. You can just ignore everything else and dive into the task at hand.
Also, yes, coordinating helps with the motivation.
@Villanelle &@thesleepyhead both of you are just humble. Your targets are quite ambitious, IMO. And everyday both of you manage to complete them without a sweat and manage to chill too.
I agree! I struggle with the same GS 2 targets each day while you guys manage to do everything well in time. Some great time management skills there.
@Villanelle &@thesleepyhead both of you are just humble. Your targets are quite ambitious, IMO. And everyday both of you manage to complete them without a sweat and manage to chill too.
I agree! I struggle with the same GS 2 targets each day while you guys manage to do everything well in time. Some great time management skills there.
That could be because of the reading material. Like I only read my notes. I may add a few topics here and there if I feel something is missing but I don’t pick up VAM or anything else now.
18/6/21
Maths - >uniform convergence 30% done
Current Affairs class - >done
Ethics - >2 answers done
Newspaper - >done
I had a great start (despite constant interruptions by someone or the other). Then had some guests over so skipped studies for a couple of hours. To do something different, I played Badminton today quite intensely. That was quite tiring and I found it difficult to concentrate henceforth. So I'm calling it a day today (earlier than usual)
Learning for the day - >wake up early (for instance, nerdfighter said how he finished much of his work by 11 am. I began my studies by 11 am). So will now try to slowly wake up earlier and earlier.
I think for us it’s been mostly about being in the groove. 3-4 hours padhai + newspaper before lunch and 3-4 hours padhai after lunch before tea takes care of Optional and GS portion. Then 6 onwards it’s chill - bas CA, and thoda random answer writing. This should be okay jab tak solely prelims prep ni hai.
Breaking down syllabus helps big time. More than anything. You can just ignore everything else and dive into the task at hand.
Oh trust me, I feel very embarrassed to talk about what "I" do/did with even a tinge of sense of achievement. I'd rather prefer to listen and learn. :P
@nerdfighter @PP1204 I'd obv second what@Villanelle said! But here are few learnings at my end :
1. Give yourself incentives if your week goes good. And no guilt pangs if things don't go your way. Jaise kal main butter chicken aur naan khaunga. Simple pleasures of life. :p
2. Don't let bad days spillover the good days. Jo reh gaya, koi baat nahi. Wapis toh aana hai hee. Just keep moving ahead.
3. Break down the subject. Keema bana do! Micro topic-ing.
4. In my case, if my first half of the day goes productive, then I know din sahi jaa raha hai. And if it goes haywire, phir toh bhagwaan maalik hai uss din ka.
Baaki toh I think I have learnt a lot by being on this platform. Aur woh kya lines hain Robert Frost Uncle ki :
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
@thesleepyhead that's the second straight day a poem by Robert Frost has impacted me.Kal Patootie had posted about the Road not taken. I spent an hour yesterday reading the poem (again and again) and various analysis of it. Aaj ke liye ab ye poem mil gaya
Kal read If by Rudyard Kipling (only if you haven’t already) :)
@thesleepyhead that's the second straight day a poem by Robert Frost has impacted me.Kal Patootie had posted about the Road not taken. I spent an hour yesterday reading the poem (again and again) and various analysis of it. Aaj ke liye ab ye poem mil gaya
He along with Sylvia Plath, Wordsworth and P B Shelley were a great part of my childhood! Gentle people, I tell you! :P
» hide previous quotes» show previous quotes@thesleepyhead that's the second straight day a poem by Robert Frost has impacted me.Kal Patootie had posted about the Road not taken. I spent an hour yesterday reading the poem (again and again) and various analysis of it. Aaj ke liye ab ye poem mil gaya
Kal read If by Rudyard Kipling (only if you haven’t already) :)
Have read it. Powerful poem! Kal woh post karunga. :P
iceking,THE_MECHANIC@thesleepyhead that's the second straight day a poem by Robert Frost has impacted me.Kal Patootie had posted about the Road not taken. I spent an hour yesterday reading the poem (again and again) and various analysis of it. Aaj ke liye ab ye poem mil gaya
Kal read If by Rudyard Kipling (only if you haven’t already) :)
Sure. Thanks for the reminder. I've been meaning to revisit that for some time now.
The funny thing is I've read all these poems before in school. I hated them then. Now I understand these poems (particularly in the context of upsc prep :P).
SergioRamos,THE_MECHANICHave read it. Powerful poem! Kal woh post karunga. :P
@Villanelle I just realised that my comment here was a classic case of begaani shaadi mei abdullah deewana. 😂
THE_MECHANIC,
I think for us it’s been mostly about being in the groove. 3-4 hours padhai + newspaper before lunch and 3-4 hours padhai after lunch before tea takes care of Optional and GS portion. Then 6 onwards it’s chill - bas CA, and thoda random answer writing. This should be okay jab tak solely prelims prep ni hai.
Breaking down syllabus helps big time. More than anything. You can just ignore everything else and dive into the task at hand.
Oh trust me, I feel very embarrassed to talk about what "I" do/did with even a tinge of sense of achievement. I'd rather prefer to listen and learn. :P
@nerdfighter @PP1204 I'd obv second what@Villanelle said! But here are few learnings at my end :
1. Give yourself incentives if your week goes good. And no guilt pangs if things don't go your way. Jaise kal main butter chicken aur naan khaunga. Simple pleasures of life. :p
2. Don't let bad days spillover the good days. Jo reh gaya, koi baat nahi. Wapis toh aana hai hee. Just keep moving ahead.
3. Break down the subject. Keema bana do! Micro topic-ing.
4. In my case, if my first half of the day goes productive, then I know din sahi jaa raha hai. And if it goes haywire, phir toh bhagwaan maalik hai uss din ka.
Baaki toh I think I have learnt a lot by being on this platform. Aur woh kya lines hain Robert Frost Uncle ki :
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Quite positive and helpful,@thesleepyhead.Thank you! :)
THE_MECHANIC,thesleepyheadThings done:
- Modern Algebra Theory (60%)
- Ethics Answer Writing
- Modern Algebra PYQs (few)
Targets
- Finish Modern Algebra Theory
- Modern Algebra PYQs (1/3)
- Ethics Answer Writing
- Newspaper
Realised that I'm going to forget the proofs irrespective of how well I do them now. Have shifted that to post prelims period now. Time to solve PYQs and get in the groove!
Today went better than yesterday, although I did still feel sleepy in the morning. Need to keep working on the sleep cycle and improve focus. Now the goal is to solve enough questions to feel comfortable in modern algebra and kickstart GS mains topics again soon!
Things done:
- Modern Algebra Theory
- Modern Algebra PYQs (1/3)
- Ethics Answer Writing - 2020 case studies are just weird!
- Newspaper
Targets:
- Modern Algebra PYQs (2/3)
- Ethics Answer Writing
- Newspaper
Will start counting hours again after almost 2 months to maintain discipline and ensure continuous progress. Onwards & upwards :D
Write your comment…
