Tips to Stay Motivated | CAT Exam Motivation
The ‘reason’ to work hard is the prize of getting into IIMs for a CAT aspirant. During the exam preparation stage, a student is exposed to a plethora of external forces that both motivate and demotivate him. But, in principle, the ultimate goal of getting into IIMs should keep you highly motivated. However, this is quite rare. Long-term motivation is required for success especially when you are preparing for such a competitive exam. Your actions, not external influences, will determine whether your motivation lives or dies. You should maintain your CAT exam motivation till the day of exam as it very crucial.
Maintaining your concentration and dedication towards your goal for the duration of the CAT exam is a vital component of preparation. Too often, candidates fail to consider the role of motivation while developing their study plan. While effort and sincerity are beneficial, staying motivated during the preparation phase becomes a severe challenge.
So, how do you stay focused and motivated on your current task? Here are a few pointers to get you started:
Define Your Motives:
Working on something every day does not have to be a difficult undertaking if your motivation is high enough. It makes no difference whether the reasons appear trivial to others, as long as it delights you every step of the way. A higher pay, more professional alternatives, admission to a top B-school, or creating a better life for your family.
Choose one that is good enough for you to not yield to any excuses. Once you’ve identified your motivation, keep it in mind whenever you feel yourself slipping in your CAT preparation.
Also read: Why is motivation important?
Believe in yourself:
Before you make study, plans or pull out the books, modify your attitude about the exam. The CAT exam is not the monster that many people portray it to be. Yes, there is stiff competition, and acceptance rates are low. However, when viewed objectively, the exam is essentially an aptitude-based exam. Even the syllabus isn’t very complicated; you’ve previously covered the majority of the material in school. You only need to prepare yourself to take the proper approach when answering the questions.
Plan Your Preparation:
Appropriate preparation is impossible to attain without proper planning first. Make a precise plan of action before you sit down to study. Remember the syllabus and the amount of time you have till the exam. Divide your preparation into stages, such as covering your CAT syllabus, practicing questions, giving mock exams, reviewing weak areas, and so on. Determine a fair timetable for each of these processes. If you stick to this timetable religiously, you’ll find it simpler to stay motivated when you know what the next task is.
Set goals and objectives: 
Poor planning will lead to disaster. Set goals for yourself that are both long and short term as it will help you achieve them on a timely basis. Weekly divide your syllabus and schedule your week accordingly. Make time for preparedness. Don’t overburden yourself- it’s easier to meet your goals when you only have a few topics to cover. Before you can think about running, you must first learn to walk. Setting a vague goal, such as completing your course by August, will not work.
Break it down into simple, attainable goals. And when you reach your goal, reward yourself. Go out to eat, meet up with pals, or do something fun. The satisfaction of rewarding yourself after successfully completing the task at hand is a fantastic source of motivation.
Give Yourself a Break:
There’s no need to overwork yourself. After each session, take a well-timed break. After a lengthy study session, a short period of rest will help you break the monotony of CAT preparation and keep yourself fresh. However, ensure that such breaks are evenly scheduled, of proper duration, and contain no-effort chores. Talk to your folks, watch TV, take a break, and recharge for the next round of the grind.
Maintain appropriate motivation and focus, and you will succeed in the CAT exam. Remember that hard effort goes a long way, but the desire to work hard for extended periods of time is what will propel you to success.
Also read: CAT exam preparation guide
Manage Your Time
Have you noticed that we are more demotivated towards the end of the day than during the day? This occurs because we tend to reflect on how our day went at that time. Now, if you stick to a regular pattern and a timetable to get things done and it works, that’s fantastic! This point is unnecessary. If sticking to a timetable doesn’t work for you, you could try a task list instead. A task table basically indicates what tasks must be completed in a given day and how long each activity will take. It does not specify when it must be completed, giving you a window of opportunity to enjoy it.
Also read: Time management hacks for CAT
