Different Techniques that help clear UPSC Examination Part I

• UPSC preparation is daunting, and some techniques can help the journey. 
• Four techniques are discussed here, while the remaining four will be in Part II. UPSC

Are you a UPSC aspirant? Do you need help with your current preparation techniques? The following techniques can be game-changers for you. As a UPSC aspirant, you must study for 6-8 hours daily, learn the never-ending syllabus, undergo mock tests, and face multiple hurdles. With proper techniques, it can be a manageable task. UPSC

The Union Public Service Commission Civil Service Examination is the toughest, with a passing percentage of around 0.01%. Are you sure you are not among the 99.99% of aspirants who fail to crack the exam? Experts and veterans assert the need for an optimal preparation strategy and technique to clear the examination. The following are the methods to help you choose wisely, as each has pros and cons. UPSC

POMODORO Technique UPSC

The POMODORO technique is considered to be an optimal time management method. This technique can be extensively used in UPSC preparation because it helps manage the best resource: Time. It involves studying for a hyper-focused session for 25 minutes and taking a 5-minute short break. The POMODORO technique can be repeated until the task is completed. UPSC

Pros of POMODORO Technique:

The syllabus for the UPSC is vast and seems never-ending. Breaking down your studies into smaller chunks dramatically helps in avoiding mental fatigue. Studying continuously for hours at a stretch might cause mental fatigue and affect your learning and understanding of the topic. With POMODORO, you can maintain sharper focus during each session. 

Short and hyper-focused bursts of concentrated studying are often considered more productive than longer uninterrupted sessions. The chances of getting distracted and losing motivation are minimised. Scheduled breaks are crucial for maintaining physical and mental well-being, especially during the intense UPSC preparation period. 

POMODORO dramatically helps in maintaining and planning your study sessions effectively. This can significantly improve your chances of covering the vast syllabus, making sufficient time for revisions and mock tests, and having a social life. Moreover, completing each POMODORO session successfully gives a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to continue. UPSC

Cons of POMODORO Technique:

Although POMODORO is a near-perfect technique, it may only suit some people mainly because it is too rigid and restrictive. Some aspirants prefer longer, uninterrupted study sessions. Also, frequent breaks might break the flow while dealing with complex topics and lengthy writing tasks. 

Sticking to the POMODORO technique can be challenging for some, especially if they prefer longer study sessions. Finding ways to minimise distractions during hyper-focused sessions can be challenging. Sometimes, revising what you’ve already learned might take longer than 25 minutes; hence, you might have to adjust your sessions. UPSC

Focusing solely on completing a POMODORO session might lead to rushing through the material without proper understanding. It would be like focusing on the quantity of completed sessions rather than the quality of what was learned during each session. UPSC

Reserve POMODORO Technique

Considering the pros and cons of the conventional POMODORO technique, aspirants might look for a viable alternative. The reverse POMODORO technique can be the answer. It revolves around engaging in uninterrupted and hyper-focused deep learning sessions ranging from 45-90 minutes, followed by a break of 5 or 10 minutes either before or after the learning session. UPSC

Take a small break beforehand while engaging in the reverse POMODORO technique. During this time, relax and rejuvenate to clear your mind for the hyper-focused session. Then, you enter a hyper-focused studying session for as long as you need or wish to. 

When you need to take another break, set a timer for a short break, typically 5-10 minutes. You can continue taking breaks before each session and adjust the break and work durations per your productivity and energy level. In the traditional POMODORO technique, you engage in a strict 25-minute session followed by a 5-minute break, while the reverse technique is more lenient. UPSC

Pros of Reverse POMODORO Technique UPSC

By scheduling the breaks upfront, you create a sense of urgency to start working and avoid procrastination. This can be particularly important for daunting or unappealing tasks like a complex subject. The preplanned break sessions recharge your mental batteries and prevent burnout and mental fatigue. 

A prior break also helps to flush unnecessary thoughts and refreshes you. Knowing you have a dedicated break could help you focus more during the uninterrupted study session. It helps in improving concentration when it is required the most. UPSC

Unlike the traditional POMODORO technique, the reverse technique allows you to adjust the studying and break durations based on your preferences. This can be significantly helpful for vast points and subjects that require a longer attention span.

Cons of Reverse POMODORO Technique

Even if the reverse POMODORO technique seems perfect, it might not be. Short bursts of work, followed by predefined breaks, might only be ideal for some, mainly because sticking to reverse POMODORO techniques is a huge task. Also, it is easy to get carried away during the break and losing time is easy. UPSC

Also, deciding on the activities for your breaks can be equally challenging, especially during extended study sessions. Planning an engaging but productive activity while keeping a time cap on completion is a huge task. When facing crucial deadlines, you might feel tempted to skip breaks altogether, which can be counterproductive and lead to burnout, mental fatigue, and decreased efficiency. UPSC

Time Tracking Technique UPSC

Keeping track of your time involves monitoring and recording the time spent on various tasks, activities and study sessions throughout the day. During time tracking, you must have the exact data of every second spent on daily tasks, from waking up to brushing, breakfast, lunch, dinner, travel, study sessions, breaks, and everything in between. 

This activity is efficient in increasing awareness of your time utilisation. It also helps in the identification of areas of improvement and optimisation of productivity and efficiency. It starts with choosing a time-tracking method that suits your pattern and preferences. Then, you record each task’s start and end times and are as specific as possible. 

Afterwards, aspirants have to analyse this data occasionally, along with the progress. They can identify the areas where things could have been improved. Insights also help track and adjust your daily schedule, prioritise tasks, and improve your time management skills. Something that would be beneficial throughout your career. 

Pros of Time Tracking Technique

This technique dramatically helps increase time awareness; you learn where every second is spent. This knowledge dramatically improves productivity as you gain insights into the areas of improvement. Mainly because they know the time wasters; it also helps avoid procrastination and encourages you to work more efficiently. 

Tracking your time provides data to create realistic study schedules and achievable goals. It also helps better analyse past performance to identify areas for improvement. Seeing your progress visualised through time tracking can be a significant motivator. 

Cons of Time Tracking Technique

Focusing too much on time tracking and recording every minute can lead to anxiety and stress. Rigid adherence to a well-tracked schedule can hamper your creativity and spontaneity. You need help to think clearly as you are bound to stick to a strict schedule. 

Flexibility in the schedule to accommodate unexpected events or new learning opportunities might be absent. Continuously seeing unproductive sessions despite sticking to a strict schedule can be demotivating. Remember, it’s normal if you are facing some unproductive sessions. 

Completing a subject or a topic within a stipulated time might not be a good idea, as it would not be a quality learning experience. Aspirants must focus on quality learning rather than sticking to a time-tracking technique. 

Time Blocking Technique UPSC

The time-blocking technique is an excellent alternative to the strict time-tracking methods. It is a more adaptive and dynamic alternative to fixed time intervals. Aspirants can break their day into time blocks dedicated to specific tasks or study sessions. Within each block, they can study independently without rigid constraints. 

Once the specific block ends, they can take a small break to recharge and evaluate your progress. It starts by listing all the tasks for the day, assigning particular time blocks for each task, and arranging them based on priority and importance. One should be realistic while assigning time blocks; advanced tools like a calendar or a planner can be used to create a visual representation of time blocks. 

Pros of Time Blocking Technique

Dedicating time slots to each subject and task eliminates distractions and encourages deeper focus during each block. It is leading to increased productivity and better learning outcomes. It also forces you to prioritise tasks and allocate realistic timeframes for each task. This directly promotes better time management skills. 

Knowing your schedule allows you to eliminate unnecessary tasks and distractions, and you’ll have a correct idea of what to do next. This also creates a sense of calm and control over your daily schedule. Proper visualisation of the schedule enhances accountability, thus increasing productivity. This is particularly helpful in staying motivated throughout your preparation journey. 

Cons of Time Blocking Technique

Unexpected events like health issues or changes in focus could require rescheduling, disrupting your planned time blocks. You must be prepared to adjust your schedule whenever needed. Also, accurately estimating the time required for each task can be very challenging; at the same time, estimating leads to wasted blocks. 

Some aspirants might find the structured nature of time blocking too rigid and prefer a more flexible schedule. The key here is to find the perfect balance between the two. Pushing through long blocks without breaks leads to fatigue. Also, focusing solely on preplanned blocks could lead to neglecting other essential tasks like exercising, social interaction, etc. 

It depends on the aspirant to choose the best technique that suits their personal needs. They can select from POMODORO, Reverse POMODORO, Time Tracking and Time Blocking techniques. All these are discussed here, but a few more techniques like eating the frog, the 80/20 rule (Pareto principle), Getting things done, and energy mapping strategy will be discussed in part II of this blog; stay tuned.