Thread by @vironikaom

You wasted 6 months “planning to study” instead of actually studying.

Every day you would sit with my books, open a YouTube strategy video, and convince yourself that you were “preparing to prepare.”

- Timetable ban raha tha.
- Stationery set ho rahi thi.
- New note-taking app install ho raha tha.

Par padhai? Bas kal se.

If you’re stuck in that cycle, I get it.

Here are 3 productivity tips that will help break out of the loop

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1. The 2-Hour Rule: Just Start Small

Forget the 10-hour study targets for now.
Start with just 2 focused hours a day.

I know what you’re thinking- “2 hours? That’s too little for UPSC.”

But here’s the truth:
2 hours of deep, focused study beats 10 hours of fake productivity.

Every morning, just say:

“Just 2 hours. That’s it. Earn your lunch.”

And go full throttle for those 2 hours - no distractions, no multitasking, just you and one subject.

Guess what will happen?

Those 2 hours will become 3. Then 4. Then 6.

The key is not to start big - it’s to start real.

2. No Zero Days: Build Unbreakable Momentum

If there’s one rule you follow religiously,
let it be this:
Never have a zero day.

A zero day is a day you do nothing for UPSC - not even one page, not one mock, not one current affairs revision.

Those days are dangerous.

Why?
Because zero days break momentum.
And UPSC is all about momentum.

You don’t need to study for 8 hours every day.
Some days will be tough- family issues, health, mental fatigue. Life happens.

But even on those days, do something.

•Revise one polity article.
•Watch a 10-minute economic video.
•Solve 5 MCQs from a PYQ paper.

Small wins keep the system running.
They build a habit of consistency over intensity.

3. Digital Fasting: Detox Your Mind

You don’t need 10 Telegram groups, 7 YouTube channels, and 4 note-sharing friends.

What you really need is focus- and right now, the internet is your biggest enemy.

Limit your YouTube, uninstall Instagram, and delete Facebook for a full month during your preparation.

Sounds extreme? Maybe.

But in that month, your clarity will return.

You will stop comparing your timetable with toppers, stop collecting PDFs that you will never read.

If you can’t quit everything, start small:

•Uninstall social media apps for 30 days.
•Block distracting websites with apps like Forest or Cold Turkey.
•Use YouTube only with a purpose (limit it to 30 min/day max).
•Switch to a basic phone if it’s getting out of hand.

Trust me, dopamine detox works wonders.

Bonus Tip: Forgive Yourself & Reset Fast

Missed a day? Slacked off for a week?

Don’t let guilt turn into shame and shame into inaction.

Close the loop.

Reset. Restart. Recommit.