What should be avoided in the last 60 days of UPSC CSE prelims preparation?

The Prelims is the stage where the maximum number of eliminations happens. Of about 10 lakh applicants, only around 10000 manage to appear for the next stage, the mains. Hence, an aspirant should effectively use the final 2 months of their prelims preparation. I will briefly explain a few things that should be avoided in the last 60 days of Prelims preparation.

1. New reference textbooks- Kindly avoid studying a new textbook for any subject. It would only exacerbate your stress levels as you are unfamiliar with the book itself. Stick onto revising the reference books that you have already finished and continue revising as much as you can.
2. Not taking mock tests- This is a sure-shot strategy to fail prelims as mock tests prepare you for the prelims exam. By not taking the mocks, you may not be able to manage the environmental stress during the exam or not assimilate the knowledge that one can gain from the tests. Also, keep in mind to revise the mock tests. It is imperative that even if you did your mock tests well, you have to continue revising them to learn from the mistakes you did in those tests. Chances of getting a question in prelims that are similar to that of the one in your mock tests are quite high and if you revise and learn from it, you can expect more marks.
3. Lack of timetable- he final two months are vital in your preparation and hence you have to follow a timetable that, ensures that you have covered and revised all the necessary topics and helps you realize what your strong/weak areas are. So, in the final days, you can concentrate on those weak areas to make yourself ready for the exam.
4. Frequent Outings- Try to avoid any unwanted outings, partying, social gatherings, etc. Even if the event takes just a few hours, the chances of getting an entire day wasted are high, due to exhaustion and traveling time.
5. Changing the strategy- Every aspirant has their own strategy for studying something. While it is perfectly alright to assimilate new techniques and make minor changes into it, now is not the time to change it entirely. Some aspirants tend to do it based on talks from an experienced aspirant or a topper. Please understand that they are speaking from their perspective which is a strategy that could work only for them. Be confident about your studying method and do not doubt your abilities.
6. Thinking about lost time- By doing this, you are giving yourself a ticket for a guilt trip that consumes even more time. Let go of the past as you have no control over it. Pick yourself up and start studying and just a few hours into the preparation, you would stop thinking about those lost time as you start getting the satisfaction of achieving goals.
7. Improper study time- A serious aspirant has to put in at least 8—9 hours every day for their preparation. What I would like to emphasize here is that, if you are someone who puts in less time, please increase it to the bare minimum and if you are already doing well with your preparation, do not try the unsustainable 16 hrs/day schedule.

The final two months can make or break your case in prelims. Please maintain the momentum and make sure that you clock in the minimum hours of studying. Also, make sure to keep yourself healthy- physically and mentally. I would advise everyone not to make any drastic changes at this stage as it would only bring chaos into your preparation. Get enough sleep during these days and resort to light exercises/meditation to manage your stress levels. I wish you the best for the upcoming prelims exam.