Following the ways, to destressing, yourself may seem like a herculean task but it is all about taking control of the situation and finding out the optimum strategy. Take as many MOCKs as your schedule permits. It is not just important to take mocks but also analyse them and understand what mistakes you made and in which sections. Prepare a better plan for your next mock test and try not to repeat the same mistakes in the next exam. Read the newspaper daily to stay updated on news articles and read international news as well. This practice will boost your reading speed as well and will be extremely helpful for your MBA exams. Articles from the New York Times, The Guardian and Aon news have appeared several times in Reading Comprehension passages of CAT exam. 

On the day of the exam, there may be many things which may go wrong but stay calm as getting anxious will lead to stress and you will lead to bad decisions. Make a list of things-to-do before the day of the exam and stick to the checklist to avoid mishaps at the last moment. Read all instructions carefully on the official CAT website before the examination day. If any unforeseen situation presents itself, try to take help of the invigilators or authorities at your examination centre. Divide time equally for all three sections of the CAT examination. Go through each section well and attempt the easy questions first and go for the moderate or difficult questions later. Divide time well and put in use the strategy made while giving your latest mocks.

Following the above points will not only help you in your CAT preparation but will also help on the day of the exam. Always try to share your problems with someone who can understand you well and may guide you like a mentor. It will not only help you relieve your stress but will also aid you in making an informed decision. Spend time with those who you enjoy and avoid negative or pessimistic people. Follow someone in life whom you look up to, it can be some celebrity, your teacher, your friend or your parents. See motivational videos of people who succeeded in life/CAT toppers as you will be more encouraged to come out of tricky situations which may cause stress for you. Believe in the process of learning through making mistakes, so forget your stress, own your decisions and take a different approach in case you fail.

Many celebrities have a success mantra which they follow to avoid stress and take wise decisions as any decision taken under duress will never be a good one. Warren Buffet believes “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” So, stay positive and lead a stress-free life and take each moment as it comes.

Finally, I will leave you with a rumination from India’s favourite fiction writer Chetan Bhagat, who did his mechanical engineering at IIT Delhi and completed an MBA at IIM Ahmedabad. “Don’t just have career or academic goals. Set goals to have a balanced, successful life. I used the word balanced before successful. Balanced means your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order. Life is not meant to be taken seriously as we all are temporary here. We are like a prepaid card with a limited warranty. Don’t be serious, be sincere”.