1. The 5-5-5 Breathing Anti-Anxiety Trick 

Before you start your next mock or when you’re panicking mid-RC, try this:

• Inhale for 5 seconds
• Hold for 5 seconds
• Exhale for 5 seconds

Repeat 5 times. It sounds basic, but it tells your brain: “Yo, chill. We’re not being chased by a lion. It’s just an RC passage.”

2. Create a Ritual Before You Study

This isn’t about being fancy, it’s about setting the vibe. Light a candle, play your “focus” playlist, or move your body with a quick walk around your room. Whatever tells your brain, “Okay, it’s study time, not stress time.” It’s your version of a pre-game warm-up. And trust me, it works.

3. Slow Down to Speed Up

Burnout often shows up when you're rushing through prep like it's Squid Game. But here's the plot twist: Slowing down makes you faster.

When you take time to really understand a concept, instead of bulldozing through 100 questions a day, you retain more and panic less. Quality > Quantity. Always.

4. Try the “Unplug Hour”

Once a day, give your brain a break from screens, timers, and percentile graphs. No YouTube, no Telegram groups, no scrolling through Quora drama. Go for a walk. Listen to music. Doodle. Lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling. Let your mind wander. That’s when creativity and sanity come back.

5. Body Scan: A Literal Check-In

Sit still. Close your eyes. Start from the top of your head and mentally scan down to your toes. Notice tension in your jaw? Shoulders hunched like you’re bracing for battle? Let it go. This little 2-minute check-in reboots your nervous system like Ctrl+Alt+Del for your brain.

6. Mindful Mornings > All-Nighter Regrets

Start your day with intention, not Instagram. Instead of doomscrolling in bed, do one thing that recharges you for a new day: stretching, going for a run, or sipping lemon water while watching the sunrise. It sets the tone. Otherwise, your day feels like one big to-do list you’re already behind on.

7. Microbreaks Rejuvenate 

Think you need to study for 4 hours straight to be productive? That’s like running a marathon without drinking water. Try 50-minute sprints with 10-minute breaks. Use those 10 minutes to breathe, shake out your body, dance to your favourite Bollywood song, whatever helps you reset.

Remember, Mindfulness isn’t about becoming a Zen monk. It’s about surviving this prep with your head and heart intact. Because guess what? The CAT is just an exam. Your peace, focus, and mental stamina carry you across the finish line and into life beyond percentiles.