• UPSC preparation is very long and tedious process, which is further made difficult by an ever expanding syllabus and lack of time on the part of the aspirants. Considering this, depending upon one teacher, guide, mentor or even a single coaching class material is not going to help you cross the line. You should transform yourself into your own teacher, who is able to develop questions as a student and answer them as well using reference materials and study materials. Adopting this dual-role approach to your preparation methodology will help gain confidence along with helping you with subjective studies. If you inculcate this habit for the long run, you will get into the mode of self-study to solve any question that arises in your mind about any topic.

• One of the best qualities that you will need not only as an UPSC CSE aspirant but also as an IAS officer is that of a problem-solving attitude. UPSC aspirants much like the officer they will become after clearing the Civil Services Examination, need to address a host of problems and challenges in the preparatory phase and overcome them using innovative techniques. You may encounter problems of dealing with an extensive syllabus, time management, resources, peer pressure, societal pressure and many others during your IAS preparation phase. In such testing times, your problem-solving attitude will come in very handy to design solutions. Therefore, IAS aspirants should develop a never-say-die attitude towards problems.

Also lead a stimulating life. Of course, you have a grand goal, i.e., clearing the IAS exam. Let this goal be your motivator. Let your mind always be working. Never stay idle. Solve puzzles and brain teasers in your spare time. All this will shake you off your sleepiness.

Allow yourself to unwind

• It is essential for your wellbeing that you unwind before the day comes to an end. Meditation and yoga are really helpful for your body and mind because their routines introduce a series of breathing exercises that help you connect to your untapped energy. It helps you quiet your mind, relax your body, and after practising for some time you might be able to feel more connected to the world outside your own.

Go for a walk

• After a long day, it is crucial for you to go out and get your body moving. We are sure you have heard this many times, but taking a walk in the woods (or anywhere) can really benefit your body, mind, spirit, and boost your self-confidence to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. In order for you to be more productive in your endeavour, you need to make sure you include a little walk- time in your routine.

• It is imperative that you have a sound sleep when you do sleep at night. Don’t think about your CS exams, your uncovered portion of the UPSC syllabus, your friends’ preparation, your parents’ expectations, etc. Unburden your mind and sleep like a baby! You can get a good shut eye only if you create certain conditions for it like no lights, no caffeine before bedtime, quiet atmosphere, etc. If your sleep is marred by negative thoughts and dreams, you will wake up tired and be sleepy the whole next day even if you had ‘slept’ for 8 hours.

Use relaxation techniques: If you find yourself tensed and getting anxious during the test:

• Relax; you are in control. Take slow, deep breaths
• Don't think about the fear
• Pause; think about the next step and keep on task, step by step
• Use positive reinforcement for yourself: Acknowledge that you have done, and are doing your best
• Expect some anxiety: It's a reminder that you want to do your best and can provide energy. Just keep it manageable
• Realize that anxiety can be a "habit" and that it takes practice to use it as a tool to succeed
• After the test, review how you did: List what worked, and hold onto these strategies. It does not matter how small the items are: they are building blocks to success
• List what did not work for improvement: Celebrate that you are on the road to overcoming this obstacle

Pick Brain Boosting Foods and Beverages

• Different type of food items can have different reactions to the body and general mood of a person. Therefore, it is very important for CSE aspirants to include right type of food items in their daily schedule. As a rule of thumb, focus on food items that are high in proteins. Proteins are very important as they burn slowly giving a constant source of energy to the body, keeping you full for long time durations. Also, try and include eggs, nuts, curd, cottage cheese and other low-fat items in your daily diet. As far as food items go, eggs, poha, idlis, dosa, dhokla are all light alternatives that can help you during exam preparation.

Avoid Brain Blocking Foods and Beverages

• In continuation of the above point, CSE aspirants should try and avoid certain food items that may feel them lethargic and fatigued. Carbohydrates are one such food group that are digested very quickly and may compel you to eat more frequently. Stay away from sugary and processed foods like chocolate, cookies, cakes and candies. You may also exclude carbohydrate rich food items like rice, potatoes and white flour from your diet.

Protect Your Stomach

• To ensure that your IAS study schedule is not hindered by any untimely illness, it is important to protect your stomach. To do so, try to include curd and buttermilk in your daily diet. Both these items contain good bacteria that will help you counter any problems like acidity, digestion problems, constipation and general stomach upset problems.

Avoid Eating Outside

• While it may be impossible for some UPSC CSE aspirants to do so, it is important you try and avoid any outside food. You can never be sure of the quality, health and hygiene followed at the food preparation stage unless the food is prepared at home. There have been several cases of food poisoning and contamination in recent past. To avoid any such situation, it is best advised to either self-cook your food or get it prepared by a trusted person at your home.

Follow a Balanced Diet

• Although it sounds like a motherly cliché, following a balanced diet is of vital importance for anyone preparing for UPSC CSE Exams. A proper balanced diet should include three full meals that provide your body all the necessary nutrients required to keep your body fit and mind alert throughout the day. Try to include a lot of green vegetables and fresh fruits in your daily food intake; it will help you build immunity and strong physique along with helping you to tackle mental stress. Try not to skip any meals or delay meal times to cover your IAS study timetable, eating on time will help study faster and better.

Heavy & Healthy Breakfast

• It is common knowledge that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; however, this common knowledge is commonly ignored by all the common people. Skipping Breakfast to save 20 minutes may sound like a good idea, but doing so will make you feel lethargic and fatigued. Heavy and healthy breakfast is even more important for IAS aspirants because early morning is the time when your brain is functioning at its full potential and having a good breakfast aids the brain’s processing power even more.

Eat Light, Small and Frequent Meals

• Heavy meals taken at a time will direct blood flow and energy towards digestion process leading to the sleepy lethargic feeling. But if you are preparing for the tough IAS exams, you need your energy directed towards the brain, isn’t it! Therefore, it is important to for IAS Aspirants to opt for light, small and frequent meals spread throughout the day, rather than binge eating at a time. IAS aspirants can also include healthy snacks and mini meals throughout the day to keep them full and refreshed at the same time.

Water is Your Best Friend

• Students preparing for IAS exams, start treating water as your best friend from today. During the course of your general studies preparation, you would have identified more than enough reasons about the importance of water as a component of your diet. If you need any more reasons, consider this! Being dehydrated can make you feel lethargic, irritable and tired; moreover it also affects your concentration, making it difficult for you to focus and study well. Also, water need not be consumed as just plain water; you can spice things up by opting for fruit juices, herbal teas or any other combination that may suit you. However, avoid caffeine and any caffeinated products, as they will not help you in the long run.

• When you will try to gather knowledge on a specific portion, try to know everything in details as well as try to relate that portion to different ways. Suppose, you are reading a portion of history, it is not necessary to explain that part with historical concepts only rather than you can explain that with geographical perspective, sociological perspective, political perspective, if possible economical perspective as well as try to explain that part with any current affairs topic related to that part. In short, the more perspectives you will relate or think from, the more benefits you will gain here and today UPSC also wants this from you.
• Here,we will like to suggest you focus on the basic concept and on current affairs properly and according to that try to relate to the current scenario of your surroundings or try to explain those in details with whatever you have gathered from your books or from current affairs. Increase the area of your thinking power.

• Start your day early. One tends to be at one’s most efficient early in the day and as the day wears on, you would start to lose your motivation as well as physical and mental strength, and it becomes difficult to carry on. So make the most of the early hours.
• Prioritize well -by prioritizing, we mean choosing what to read when. For example, just after waking up, our mind is not at its best. It tends to be at its best after about 1-2 hours. So start your day with something lighter like revision for an hour and a half. Then pick the densest subject (e.g. Optional). Divide study time into slots of 1.5 hrs (2 hrs if you are really going strong) and no more. Because after that, productivity decreases. After each slot, take 10 min break. Don’t leave your desk then. Just close your eyes and try to grasp what you read. After studying for 2 slots, take a longer break and just walk around your room. It helps in internalizing concepts and keeps one refreshed.

Here are a few changes a candidate goes through:

• He starts to respect the exam and the process set by UPSC.
• He becomes more aware and passionate about the wrongs that are happening around him.
• He starts understanding the value of patience and accepts short term defeats.
• However, not all changes are positive. Many people also become extremely critical of the selected candidates and start finding flaws in their achievements.
• They start thinking about themselves as experts in CSE and dish out useless advice to people.
• Desperation, day dreaming, regrets are also some of the changes that often take place.
• Your thinking process changes, you develop an opinion for almost everything.
• You become an educated, aware, responsible citizen of the country.
• You literally start taking care of your health, your wellbeing, and your surroundings.
• You learn to say NO more often as the preparation requires sacrifices.
• The things which never bothered, like teenagers smoking in a society park or men standing in women’s coach of the daily metro do bother now and you learn to raise your voice.
• You can talk to people (sensible discussions) of any age group (10–80).
• You get to know how much power you as an individual possess just by knowing your rights.