Preparing for a tough examination like UPSC CSE can leave anyone drained because of the long hours of study required to be put in to do well. Where many feel demotivated and depressed while preparing for exam, on the other hand many manage both their preparation and mental and physical health simultaneously. One such person is IAS officer Anupama Anjali who not only cracked CSE with AIR 386 in her second attempt but also made sure that her mental and physical health didn’t get affected during her preparation.
Indian Masterminds brings to you the success story of an IAS officer who not only made perfect strategies for her UPSC preparation but also made plans for her physical and mental health as well.
BACKGROUND
Born in Delhi, IAS officer Anupama Anjali cracked UPSC CSE 2017 with AIR 386 in her second attempt. She has done her graduation in Mechanical Engineering. Her father is also a civil servant, an IPS officer posted in Bhopal. IAS Anupama is currently posted as Joint Collector of Housing, Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh.
MENTAL FITNESS
Ms. Anupama kept herself mentally fit and made herself strong for UPSC preparation by refreshing herself in between her studies. This strategy was very effective and led to her success in the civil service exam in her second attempt.
According to her, during UPSC preparation, one gets negative thoughts often and feels depressed. “You may have to face this in any round of preparation. To overcome this, you have to adopt a positive attitude and motivate yourself,” she said in an interaction with media.
She further advised aspirants to try some extracurricular activities in between so that their mood gets refreshed, and they feel energised to work hard again.
EXERCISE AND MEDITATION
She also advocates taking a break from studies to focus on exercise and meditation as well. This will make aspirants mentally strong and make them feel motivated, she feels. She believes that every day a person must do exercise and meditation for a while. “This will reenergize and motivate you to restart your preparations,” she said.
CHOOSING OPTIONAL SUBJECT
She chose Anthropology as her optional subject as she found it interesting and concise. “Deciding on your optional subject will be the most crucial decision that you will take in your UPSC journey,” she cautioned aspirants.
She also advised that aspirants should always choose subjects that are of their interest.
SUCCESS MANTRA
The mantra that brought success to Ms. Anjali in UPSC: she only focussed on one book per subject. She says that UPSC exam is not about reading lots of books but reading one single book whole heartedly and understanding the syllabus.
She said that one should understand the syllabus and comprehend the paper’s requirements. “You will see that each level of the exam necessitates a different approach to preparing.”
She believes that while preparing for UPSC, one should stay away from all kinds of distractions. Instead of partying with friends or attending any function, aspirants should prepare themselves for the exam.
“It is a bit difficult to do, but if you do this, then it will be beneficial for you. You can do any work of your choice to refresh yourself. Success can be achieved here by continuously preparing with positive attitude,” she advised.
