By The journey to cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination is often described as a marathon, not a sprint. While aspirants are well aware of the importance of hard work, consistency, and smart study techniques, there are several underrated habits that successful UPSC toppers swear by. These habits, though less talked about, play a crucial role in shaping their preparation strategy, mental resilience, and overall success.
1. Regular Exercise and Mindfulness
While burning the midnight oil is often glorified, toppers emphasize the importance of physical and mental health. Regular exercise, yoga, or meditation helps in maintaining focus, reducing stress, and improving memory retention.
- Tip for Aspirants: Dedicate at least 30 minutes daily to physical activity or mindfulness practices. Even a short walk can rejuvenate your mind.
| Note: Physical activity boosts brain function and energy levels, while mindfulness practices like meditation enhance concentration and emotional stability. |
2. Effective Time Management Through Micro-Planning
Toppers often follow a micro-planning approach, breaking their daily study schedule into smaller, manageable tasks. Instead of vague goals like “Study Polity,” they set specific targets like “Complete Fundamental Duties in 2 hours.”
- Tip for Aspirants: Use a planner or digital tools to divide your syllabus into daily and weekly targets. Track your progress regularly.
| Note: Micro-planning reduces procrastination, ensures clarity, and provides a sense of accomplishment as tasks are completed. |
3. Active Learning Over Passive Reading
Many toppers stress the importance of writing answers daily, even during the initial stages of preparation. This habit helps in developing a structured thought process and improves answer-writing speed and clarity.
- Tip for Aspirants: Dedicate at least 1-2 hours daily to answer writing. Join the Paarth Saarthi Mentorship by Tathastu ICS to get feedback and improve.
| Note: Writing reinforces learning and helps in retaining information better than passive reading. It also prepares you for the Mains exam, where answer-writing skills are critical. |
4. Staying Updated Without Overwhelm
While staying updated with current affairs is crucial, toppers often follow a selective and focused approach to news consumption. They rely on trusted sources like The Hindu, PIB, and PRS India, avoiding information overload.
- Tip for Aspirants: Limit your news sources and focus on editorials, government reports, and monthly current affairs compilations.
| Note: Selective news consumption saves time and ensures that only relevant information is retained. |
5. Embracing Failures and Learning from Mistakes
Toppers don’t fear failure, they learn from it. They meticulously analyze their mock test performances and previous attempts to identify weak areas and improve.
- Tip for Aspirants: After every mock test, spend time reviewing your answers and understanding where you went wrong.
| Note: Failure is a stepping stone to success. Analyzing mistakes helps in avoiding repetition and refining strategies. |
6. Maintaining a Balanced Lifestyle
Contrary to the belief that UPSC preparation requires sacrificing everything, toppers often pursue hobbies like reading, painting, or playing a musical instrument. They also take regular breaks to avoid burnout.
- Tip for Aspirants: Allocate time for activities you enjoy and take short breaks during study sessions.
| Note: Hobbies provide a mental break, reduce stress, and improve creativity. Breaks help in maintaining long-term productivity. |
7. Staying Consistent with Revision
Toppers don’t just study; they revise consistently. Many follow a daily revision schedule for current affairs and a weekly revision cycle for static subjects.
- Tip for Aspirants: Dedicate the last hour of your study day to revising what you’ve learned. Use weekends for a comprehensive revision of the subjects.
| Note: Revision reinforces learning and ensures that information is retained for the long term. |
8. Practicing Gratitude and Positivity
Toppers often practice gratitude and maintain a positive outlook, even during challenging times. They focus on their progress rather than setbacks.
- Tip for Aspirants: Start a gratitude journal or practice affirmations to stay motivated and focused.
| Note: A positive mindset boosts motivation, reduces stress, and enhances problem-solving abilities. |
9. Avoiding Comparison and Staying Focused
Toppers avoid comparing themselves with others and stay away from unnecessary distractions, especially social media. They focus on their own journey and goals.
- Tip for Aspirants: Limit social media usage and avoid forums that breed negativity or unnecessary competition.
| Note: Avoiding comparison reduces anxiety and helps in maintaining focus on personal growth. |
While hard work and dedication are non-negotiable for UPSC success, these underrated habits often make the difference between success and failure. Remember, UPSC is not just about studying hard; it’s about studying smart and maintaining a balanced approach to life.
As you embark on this challenging yet rewarding journey, remember the words of Swami Vivekananda: “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life. Think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.”