Last minute strategies to stay relaxed for CAT 2018 by the Executive Director of FIIB

November 23, 2018: Ms. Radhika Shrivastava, Executive Director of FIIB,  has written a letter to the CAT exam 2018 aspirants, talking about the last minute strategies to stay relaxed and give their best. She is an entrepreneur and senior leader in the higher education space.  A graduate of Tufts University, IIM Bangalore and work experience at Deloitte Consulting and The World Bank, she regularly writes on topics related to bridging the employment and employability gap.

The Letter for CAT 2018 aspirants:

Dear Students, in less than 3 days, you will be taking the CAT exam.  You have been preparing hard for it.  But still, as the date comes closer, your mind is getting fidgety and bouncing up and down uncontrollably.  However, this is the time when your brain is unable to take new stuff any more.  Recognize that and account for it.  Being this close to the exam, do not take up any new topics or materials.  Use the time to brush what you already know.

I have a simple advice for you – in these last days, live in the moment. Do not think about the past – what more you could have done; topics that you could have covered, extra hours you could have put, that extra test you could have solved. As well as don’t think about the future – what will happen if you don’t do well, or what will happen if you do well.  Thinking about the past or the future adds to the anxiety levels. And what you need to do now is put your best foot forward, rely on your strength areas to carry you through, and slow down your monkey mind that is whirling with worrying and restless thoughts.

This is where I want to introduce you to a simple calming technique called mindfulness.  It’s very simple.  Don’t confuse it with meditation.  Google it.  There are many websites as well as apps that offer advice and sometimes even guided sessions to practice this hugely beneficial mind clearing and calming technique.

Here is a website: www.mindful.org that you may find useful, and try the Headspace app. They have a free product too for beginners. You could start right away with this. I want you to try these three tasks as well to further take your mind off the obsession of exam.

First, watch an inspiring TED talk on dealing with challenges.  Here’s a link to a favourite of mine about how there isn’t always only one path to success. There are many. We just need to find them. And here’s another about how in life, we need to keep moving forward. No matter what.  You need to do the same too.

Second, say a prayer.  Here’s an all-time gem of a poem that doubles up as a prayer too.

Another thing you may do is read some motivational quotes.  Given below are some of my all-time favourites quotes. All the very best for your CAT examination 2018!