EffectiveTips on how to study for long hours?

Hi students!

There are many examinations that require long term preparation and perseverance on your part.The coverage of syllabus and its revision requires you to devote long hours of study.Sometimes, it's more than 12 hours per day, may be even more. So, here are few tips on how to study for long hours and emerge successful. There will be further blogs on the same topic.So friends, stay tuned.

I am sure these tips help you in long term preparation.All the Best!!!

Have a fixed routine

Always follow the routine and to break the monotony take a day out to refresh.

Make sure, if you start at 5;30 in the morning, you start everyday at the same time.

Go to bed ,at the same time everyday.

The Journey of a thousand Miles Begin with a Single step

Don't aim at sitting for studying for 12-15 long hours on the very first day.Try to initially study for 5-6 hours and then, gradually and consistently increase the study hours.Starting with 5-6 hours in the first week , the next week you can go for 7-8 hours and then gradually increase it further according to your pace and potential.

Initially you might find it difficult, do not feel demoralized.It takes time, effort and perseverance to change old habits and form new ones. Be determined. 

Take breaks in between study hours

Take small breaks in between your studies.This will help you achieve your goals and also ease you down throughout the day.

Firstly try to make a habit of sitting for 3 hours at a stretch , as mostly exams are of this duration only.It helps in exam also, as for you, it will be like just another day.So, take a daily sitting of 3 hours at a stretch.

Other than that, you can take a 5 Minute break after every one hour.

Do not forget to do some stretching exercise in those gaps.

It's good to work hard, but far 

better to study smart.

Devote adequate time for practicing previous year or model question papers.This will help you know the level of your preparation and also boost confidence.

Try to solve previous year question papers at the time of the day when your exam is scheduled.Suppose your main exam is from 9 AM to 12 PM , try to use that time only for practicing previous year or model papers. It will acclimatize your body to the routine of exam.

Never sleep at 9 AM , if your final exam is scheduled at that time of the day.

Planning is very crucial.Do not forget to devote  time for revisions, which are crucial to success.

Where to Study?

Fix a suitable place to study.Try to study there as much as possible. You will get acclimatized to that place  and hence it would help to set up your mood and there will be very less time wasting.

Research has shown that studying in daylight makes you less drowsy, more alert in the afternoon, thereby increasing your productivity or adding more hours to your schedule. If the room/place where you study receives sunlight, it’s good place to study.
It will be better if your study place is well ventilated. Fresh air uplifts your mood and help in concentrating better. 

Using Your Mobile phones

Try not to use your mobile phone at least for 2 hours after waking up.

It is advisable to switch off your mobile before sleeping or to keep it in meeting mode.

Before bed time also, stop using stimulaters like mobiles.Instead read a good book or listen to some good meditation music.

Many students simultaneously use whats app, Facebook and other social media while studying.It is a complete waste of time.So, it is advisable to demarcate exclusive time to using social media.

Calls in between study-time also lead to ineffective study.And add to it, the conversations between you and your friends regarding syllabus completion,your friend's study plan, important questions that might come in the exams ,etc. are in reality factors that diminish your performance.They are not just major time wasters, but at the same time lead to unnecessary anxiety and worry due to comparisons and negatively effect your confidence and health.

Make an effective time-table and stick to it.

Take up difficult topics early in the day or at a time that your energy level and alertness is highest.Early morning is the most suitable time, but those who are in the habit of studying late night or in afternoon might find that time more suitable for difficult topics.Feel free to take up the difficult material at a time that works best for you.

In the evening, after already having studied for long hours, you are obviously low on your energy levels, so it is better to use that time for easier topics.

Schedule socializing, making calls, talking to friends etc. in the late evenings.

Remain Hydrated

Keep yourself aptly hydrated.If you drink less water, try increasing your fluid intake as dehydration leads to confusion and less focus , although you may not be able to realize it initially.

Eating Habits

Eat small meals.

Avoid overeating.Overeating may lead to drowsiness and make you sleepy and interfere with learning process.A light stomach is always good for an active mind.

Avoid oily and junk food.Try to eat home made food.It is no doubt hygienic and you can avoid many illnesses simply by sticking to simple home made food.

Try to include food with low Glycemic index like low-fat diary products, salads, soups and most importantly fruits in your diet.These foods release glucose slowly into the blood stream, thereby maintaining energy level for a longer period.At the same time high GI foods like pizza, burger, sugary beverages etc.  raise the energy level very fast but crash equally fast.Therefore for long duration studies not suitable as lead to fatigue and drowsiness.

Avoid processed food and drinks.Fresh juices are most suitable.

Exercise

Sitting for long hours especially during and before exams is very demanding. Always do some kind of physical activity for 15-20 minutes.You can a take a walk ,do yoga, some cardio-vascular exercise or some meditation.Do keep in mind that not all exercise are suitable for everyone.Before trying a new exercise regime, keep your strength, stamina and overall health into consideration. Physical exercise boosts learning ability.It has good effect on our Long-Term Memory.It improves concentration, helps you remain focused, increases alertness and also combats anxiety and low moods which are quite common among students during long term preparation.

Research has shown that studying in daylight makes you less drowsy, more alert in the afternoon, thereby increasing your productivity or adding more hours to your schedule. If the room where you study receives sunlight, it’s good place to study.

Sleeping Habits

It is advisable to sleep for 6-8 hours according to your need.Keep your phone away while you sleep or switch it off or put it in meeting mode.

Before sleeping, don't opt for any stimulating activity like watching television, playing games on mobiles, etc. It's better to relax 15 minutes before sleeping time. You can also try Pranayama especially "Anuvilom-Vilom" before sleeping lying laying on the bed.

Try napping It is a great stress management technique.It refreshes your mind and help you to study with concentration for long hours.Keep in mind, napping every day at the same time is more useful as it helps to stabilize circadian rhythm.You can take a small nap immediately after lunch.Remember, not to take more than one nap.It's far better to take sound sleep of 6-8 hour duration and regular nap might interfere with sound sleeps at night time.

Avoid socializing too much

Avoid the temptation to attend every social function, be it a marriage of your relative or friend, or a birthday party, especially if you are preparing for a competitive exam be it civil services or any other government recruitment competitive exams, Engineering entrance or your semester college exams.Always remember, these social functions at crucial junctures of your career won't add any incremental value to your study and career goals.You might feel lonely at times, but success demands some sacrifice.It's not that you never hang out.Do plan a day out and enjoy whole day with friends or relatives.This will give a much needed break from studies.

N Yes , a final tip- Avoid getting into love affairs.Handling relationships could be difficult especially when you have no time for the person.Well, your partners could be your support systems as well, but do remember, what's most important amidst preparation of a government job examination or any other major life exam where you have to stretch to even 15 hours a day.After studying 15 hours effectively, all you need is a great sleep.If you can give time to your partner , then only plunge into it.AND PLEASE SAY A BIG NO TO NON-SERIOUS AFFAIRS.

These tips sound simple but I ensure,once you follow them, you will experience amazing shift in your preparation.You will gain in confidence and also enjoy your more disciplined life.

All the best Guys! Stay tuned!

LOVE
PREETI RAWAT
Preeti Ki Paathshala

9540401395 / 7042600795

www.preetirawat.com

Realationship series Part-6 TRUST-The Most Important Key To a Successful Relationship

   

                   

Trust is the bedrock of any relationship.I regard it as the most important key to any successful relationship and rate it even higher than love.Although ,there are many ingredients to a healthy relationship like intimacy, communication, love, trust etc. but the foundation of any relationship is trust.Various studies and surveys point to the fact that lack of trust is one of the top four reasons for relationship breakdowns.

Trust is the starting point and the basis from which we can build any relationship.Without trust your relationship does not have a strong foundation .And any relationship with weak foundation is always prone to breakdown at the slightest sign of a storm.In fact, trust is fundamental to life.

What exactly is trust? To trust someone means you have confidence in that person, you can rely on the person and at the same time feel physically and mentally safe with him/her.Trust makes relationship a safer place.With trust, there is no room for fear or any kind of insecurity in your relation with your partner.Trust is more consistent than the feelings of love.

Love is built on trust.You cannot love someone you do not trust.Trust always precedes love.Love is a precious emotion but it is also a very delicate and the vulnerable one.So, you only give it to someone you trust.

The strength of your relationship is determined by trust.The feelings of love might fluctuate over a period of time.Being a human, you might also experience lust.You may also find yourself emotionally attached to someone else.You might fall out of love also at times.And at that time, its trust that keeps you confident in the strength of the relationship.It is not necessary that love will fade away with time, its not necessary that you fall for someone else too;but in times of any emotional upheavals due to any reason, trust will keep your bond intact.Ideally, a healthy relationship will have love and trust both, there will be intimacy,vulnerability,acceptance,effective communication and lots more.Beyond doubt,trust has an edge over others.Although, all factors have to be given importance and also efforts are required to nourish every aspect of the relationship.Important point is if there is no trust or the trust is broken, the relationship has no chance to succeed.And there is even no point in trying to make it work.

Love without trust can be selfish.Trusting in relationship involves being concerned about your partner's needs.When you trust the person, you respect his/her values and try to act accordingly and always try to ensure that you intentionally never violate any of your partner's rules or standards.Even if you violate any of his/her values or do something to your partner's disliking unintentionally, you  make sure that you never do it again. Love as I said earlier can be selfish especially if there is no trust between two persons.Love is an intense, passionate emotion ,powerful enough to get carried away and swept in your own feelings where your partner's feelings become secondary for you.

Love dies its natural death without trust.If you don't trust your partner,doubt him/her and are always suspicious of his/her activities, you will slowly observe the bitterness in your partner's attitude and the love she/he once had for you ,will begin to fade.In a way ,it also hinders your partner's growth as well.Trust creates the opportunity for love to grow but at the same time constantly being suspicious of your partner effects his/her freedom.

Trust allows any couple to experience the full potential of their relationship.Without trust, despite love and intimacy,in real sense only fear and insecurity prevails.It's a great feeling to have someone you can share everything with, knowing very well that whatever you share is secured,will be valued and respected.

Being trusted by our partner makes us a better person and we also pass on that trust onto others.It acts as a confidence booster and we achieve more in life.

Being able to trust your partners, love them profoundly has a positive impact on our mind.We consider the world at large full of good people, who are trustworthy.

No relationship can grow without trust.It's better to have no relationship than having one without trust.Life's battles become far easy with a trustworthy partner and you never feel lonely in life's journey.

It's a great feeling to be able to openly discuss anything in the world without any hesitation,share your good and bad experiences and be an open book to your partner.Transparency and open communication builds trust.

Trust is what makes us love again.If for any reason, our relationship could not work due to break of trust and we fell out of love, we will again fall in love but only after we find someone we can trust.And once trust is build, love will automatically happen.

"NEVER BREAK A PERSON'S TRUST. TRUSTING YOU IS THAT PERSON'S DECISION ,HOWEVER PROVING THAT PERSON RIGHT IS YOUR CHOICE"

     LOVE 
PREETI RAWAT
Preeti Ki Paathshala
9540401395 /7042600795
www,preetirawat.com
preetizen2014@gmail.com
info@pretirawat.com



                                                                           

20 Effective Tips to deal with Exam Phobia

                                       

Many students become excessively nervous before the examination and some even face complete black outs in the examination hall as a result there off.There are many possible reasons for this kind of behavior among students.Some of them being-irrational believes, fear of failure, inadequate preparation,pressure to perform,ineffective study techniques,lack of proper revision, excessive competition and comparing results and scores with others, to name a few. 

An optimal level of stress is required and it enhances our performance in exams.But, at the same time , if the stress level is high,it effects performance negatively as well.Sometimes, the anxiety before the exams is so much that some students face complete blackouts just before the exam or during the exam, despite good preparation on their part.All though all students face exam anxiety, but some are able to cope with them, to a certain extent.Those who are unable to cope, in the long run develop "Exam Phobia".Phobia is an irrational and intense fear where a person feel threatened by something, whereas in  there is no actual danger.It results in manifestation of a lot of physical and mental symptoms.In case of exam phobia, most common being-inability to sleep, anxiety, upset stomach,nausea,heart palpitations,shortness of breath,headaches,decrease in appetite or overeating etc.

There is no need to worry students.You can get rid of your fears and even phobias following simple tips.A step by step strategy,perseverance and determination  is all that is required to equip yourself to face examinations better.

Start with these basic steps and soon you will get rid of all your fears and start enjoying your exams.

(1) Try to remain physically active during the examination days.It is seen that students stop physical activities at least a month before the exams and start to give more time to study.This is a disastrous thing to do.Exercise act as stress buster,has a positive impact on our mood,leads to better concentration and at the same time increases our self-esteem.Exercise helps to oxygenate the brain and release tension, helping you to remain calm,composed and mentally relaxed and improves your performance.It increases concentration and also the ability to recall better.

(2)Adequate Sleep

Getting enough high-quality sleep is critical during exam time.Sleep actually enhances your brain's functioning,effectively enabling you to both think faster and remember information better.Most of the students sacrifice their sleep before exam start in order to increase preparation time to cover up the syllabus and also during exams for revision purpose.Not having enough sleep can have a very negative effect on your mind and body.It's said that the best food for brain is sleep.You need to allow yourself sleep of 8  hours at night time in order to function with full concentration and freshness the next day.A warm glass of milk before bedtime can help you sleep better.

(3)Remain hydrated!

One of the best and necessary ways to improve your focus and performance is to drink a lot of water.Dehydration may lead to headaches, fatigue,diminished concentration,lack of focus etc. 

(4)Eating Right-Students often skip breakfast or a meal during exams.Never skip breakfast.It's a grave mistake they make.Skipping meals will deprive your brain of the vital nutrients.even the best preparation will fail, if you have not taken good meals on the day of exam.

(5)Take brain boosting foods like proteins combined with whole grains, fruits, milk, walnuts etc.Avoid foods that are high in refined sugar.

(6)Eat light meals at regular intervals.Do not take heavy meals before exam which make you full as it diverts your energy towards digestive system and decrease your mental alertness. 

(7) One of the causes of nervousness during exams is inadequate preparation followed by the fear that what if questions asked in exam are more from uncovered portions of the syllabus.Simple and only solution to this problem is to start preparing for the exam well on time and not relying only on the last month preparation before the exams.

(8)For effective study and retention, try to start your day early morning.For majority of people , it is the best time to study.Those who have developed the habit of studying during night time should try to change the habit as it leads to sleep problems also and contributes to health problems in the long run.

(9)Always, prepare a time-table to study.The time-table should be realistic and should provide for regular breaks in between study slots and always should allow for cushion time to study difficult topics.Stick to the time-table.

(10)Make use of mind maps, central organizers,mnemonics, class notes etc.Making use of visual images is very effective for memory purpose and also for clarity and understanding of the topic.These enhance information comprehension and are very useful for revision a day before exam.

(11)Use chunking and grouping to memorize contents.A majority of the people can memorize and retain 7+/- items ,i.e. 5 to 9 items at a time.

(11)Use scientific technique to revise.After studying a topic, the first revision should be done within 24 hours, the second revision on the seventh day and then third after a month for maximum retention.

(12)Always start a new topic, after finishing your chapter.Incomplete tasks are better remembered and the next day, you will have the momentum to study the already started chapter.

(13) Keep self-evaluating.Try to answer short questions,multiple choice questions,solve long questions using central organizer, practice making diagrams etc. All these give you more confidence.Always remember, attempting to answer more and more questions is one of the best methods to increase your confidence and to improve your scores.

(14)Practice more and more previous year and sample papers.It helps you to be familiar with paper patterns and you also get prepared for some surprises in the question paper.

(15)Do not study from many sources.Stick to good textbooks.Do not consult too many books for the same topic as it will lead to confusion, wastage of time and also interfere with retention.It is very difficult to recall information studied from different sources and revision is next to impossible.It is advisable to select one or maximum two books for a topic and then keep on revising them.

(16) Prepare self-notes or mark in the book using pencils or highlighters, all this helps in revision which is crucial to success in exams.

(17)Always reach the examination center at least 20 minutes before the reporting time.Getting late will set off anxiety even before the exam starts.Rushing adds to the feeling of panic.Use this time to relax and use it for deep breathing or any simple form of meditation.This will calm down your nerves and make you relax.

(18)Avoid last minute cramming.Do not touch any new topic which you have left out during preparation for any reason.It is not going to help you at all,at the same time it will act as hindrance in recalling already retained information.

(19)Check a night before, all you need in the exam like stationary items and importantly admit card are packed.

(20)Practice creative visualization.Everyday before sleeping and after waking up visualize yourself in the examination hall , enjoying the exam, confidently answering all the questions and coming out of the examination hall happily and satisfied with your performance.This will make your subconscious mind work for you during night time and help you in making your visualization as a reality.It would greatly enhance your confidence.

Always remember, its not only the preparation of the exam that matters.Your whole preparation will go hay wire if you succumb to pressure and get nervous on the day of performance.Important point to note is that its the confidence which you carry when you enter the examination hall that determines your success.A positive frame of mind is essential for good performances not just in any academic exam but to face any challenge that life brings.So, it's all a matter of attitude.As Henry Ford rightly said," If you think you can, you are right;if you think you can't ,you are right again".

Good Luck friends!For more tips and effective study and revision techniques, keep looking for upcoming blogs.If you take these simple steps , slowly your exam fear will vanish and you will start enjoying your exams.

LOVE

PREETI RAWAT

Preeti Ki Paathshala

9540401395 / 7042600795

www.preetirawat.com

preetizen2014@gmail.com

12 Tips to Face Job Interview-Part 1(How to enter interview room and greet interviewers)

Hi Guys!!!

This blog is for all those who have done or are about to complete their graduation or academic journey and are wondering if they will be able to perform well in the forthcoming job interviews.Nothing to worry,friends.Like all other skills, how to face an interview can also be learned in a step-by-step manner even if you have an interview phobia.

So, today we start with the first basic thing- and that's "How to enter the interview room and greet the interviewers". It must be kept in mind that once you are invited into the interview room, the first impressions you make will be hard to shift. Interviewers can make up their minds within the first few minutes of the interview. It is not to say that they do not change their opinions, but you have to work harder in order to make them do so.

Let's start with the basics.
Firstly,enter the room with a positive frame of mind without worrying about the outcome.

Secondly, take a deep breath, calm yourself and enter the interview room slowly and serenely. 

Then, enter the room with confidence and a smile on your face. Even if you are a bit nervous, don't let that show up on your face.

Fourthly, before entering, never poke your head around the door timidly to see if the interviewer is ready.This clearly shows your lack of confidence.

Fifthly,don't walk in scratching your face or readjusting your collar.

Sixthly ,immediately on entering the room, you must wish the interviewer according to the time of the day. 
If it is a panel interview, you should wish the Chairman of the panel first and then other members by addressing them as Sirs/Madams.Try to encompass them all in your greeting.

Seventhly, if there is only one lady in the panel, it is polite to greet her separately.

Then, walk over to the chair and shake hands, if the interviewer offers his or her hand.Remember, you must not initiate the handshake. It is for the interviewer to do so, if he or she likes.

Ninthly, most probably you will be offered a seat.You must not sit-down unless the interviewer asks you to do so. In case, the interviewer or interviewers are standing, you should also keep standing.

Always,keep in mind that your handshake should be firm, but not as gripping or domineering. Do not hold on to the interviewer's hand for too long. Smile at the interviewer and look at him or her in the eyes as you shake hands. Do not shake hands looking downwards. You should always try to seem self-assured.

Eleventhly, if you carry a handbag, do not put it on the interviewer's desk, or before interviewer in your lap. Place it neatly on the floor beside you.

Twelfth and final point to remember is, if tea or coffee is served for you do not show eagerness to take it.At the same time, you should also not look hesitant to take it.

Always remember , interview is a two way communication and is not just a test of your knowledge, its more about your attitude which gets reflected in your body language as and when you enter the room and greet the interviewers.All the best!Hope , these tips help you.Keep reading the entire interview series blogs and I assure you, you will be well equipped with all tools to face the interviews confidently.

LOVE 

Preeti Rawat

Preeti Ki Paathshala

9540401395 / 7042600795

www.preetirawat.com

12 Effective Tips to deal with Public Speaking Fear

To all your surprise, Public Speaking Phobia is rated as the greatest phobia.(And yes people fear it more than they fear death).It effects our daily performance at work and even personal lives.So, here are few tips to combat your phobia.

Firstly, Use Positive Visualization. Whether or not you consider yourself a master of Public Speaking, know that plenty of studies have proven the effectiveness of POSITIVE VISUALIZATION. When we imagine a positive outcome to a scenario in our mind, it’s more likely to play out the way we envision.Instead of thinking “I’m going to be terrible out there” , imagine yourself getting applauds for your terrific performance on mike and stage.Positive thoughts can be incredibly effective–try them at least once.

Secondly, practice confident body language.Practicing confident body language is another way to boost your pre-presentation jitters. When your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit.In relation to confidence, it's often said , "Fake it ,till you make it."(Even if you are having Butterflies in your stomach)

Thirdly, always remain hydrated to combat anxiety.It is quite natural to face anxiety and fear initially.But here, don't fight them.Acceptance is the key.Transform your nervousness into positive enthusiasm of trying to do something new or something you have been doing for a long period of time with butterflies in your stomach in a new way.

Fourthly, practice a lot.Yes a lot of rehearsing is required to build up confidence.You can rehearse it in reality after going through a number of sessions in your visualization.Visualization is most effective before sleeping and just after waking up.

Fifthly, attend a lot of public speaking events as audience.It makes you comfortable when you are on stage by bringing familiarity to the task.You can also see online seminars and presentations available.

Then, always arrive early on the day of your presentation on the venue and try to adjust yourself to the environment there.

Seventhly, focus on the speech or content of your presentation, not definitely not on the audience.Majority people make the mistake of focusing on the audience out of their fear.People are more interested in your content and if your focus is right, your presentation will be far better.

Eighthly, there might be some blackouts out of nervousness initially, calm down.Here pausing a bit is the key.So, don't make your speech your presentation too fast.

Then,Practice some deep breathing before your presentation.It will calm you down.

And finally,get more organized with your content.Take more help of visual presentations.It makes your speech or presentation more appealing and also shifts your focus from audience to your contents.

Eleventhly, don't forget to record your presentations or seminars for further improvements.

Take your fear lightly.We all have one or the other kind of a problem.Always remember, your problem or fear is not bigger than you.GOOD LUCK!!!

Remain in touch!!! Will come up with more tips to remove your Public Speaking Fear.

LOVE

Preeti 

Preeti Ki Paathshala