So I am about a week and a half into GMAT prep and the math is getting just a tad better every day. Baby steps. Ha ha. But more than remembering the cubes and squares and remainder theorems, am facing a major problem- STICKING TO A SCHEDULE. While I manage to get in atleast 3 hours of studying in the day ( 1.5 hours each before and after work), the timing is erratic. The very odd working hours courtesy my job in a news channel - if a story calls for it, I must be there in the office. Also, training my mind and body to wake up early so as to make maximum and productive use of daylight hours, its proving to be a big..no wait...HUGE barrier for me! Also I am so used to working and writing in the night, which means I go to sleep around 6 am, so getting up before 12:30 pm is a no show for moi. As my GMAT test is at 9 am, this nocturnal behavior WILL HAVE TO CHANGE.
If you are facing the same problem as me, then try my method, it might just work. Am still getting used to it, and it is a major pain in the ass....TRUST ME. But no pain, no gain right?
1) You are not expected to change yourself overnight. So try waking up just half an hour earlier every single day. Small steps.
2) Exercise. Not just the mind, actual PHYSICAL exercise. Hit the gym or go for a walk for atleast an hour during the day. Your body needs the workout so that you can be tired and just plonk to bed by latest 11:30 pm.
3) Don't eat a heavy dinner and preferably don't do extremely complex problems just before you hit the sack. Revise theorems or remember formulae or even read a passage or two, but dont do a problem that will keep you thinking about it. Concentrate on getting rest.
4) If you are the kinds that have the time and the liberty to nap during the day( Haven't done that in the last 8 years now! Hate my job already. Damn it!), try avoiding the nap. Instead read a book. Zone out.
5) Maintain a journal of your sleep, break and study timings. Record everything. This also helps in knowing your maximum productivity hours in the day.
But most important of all, 6-7 hours of sleep are a must. I would definitely like more, but I can get used to 6! He he. Its all just a matter of time management. Am into week 1 of phase shift and I haven't felt this sleepy in years! Unless of course, if you are a vampire, then well......this is all completely useless...but you would be THE coolest management consultant ever! ( Am gonna go die in a hole now for the bad joke.) Will post my journal times soon.
Happy studying! Kick some royal GMAT ass.
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