Balancing Motherhood and Bank PO Exam Preparation: A Practical Guide
First and foremost, congratulations on your decision to pursue your dreams and embark on this challenging yet rewarding journey. It is indeed commendable that you have a baby and still strive for things like a bank PO job. Balancing motherhood with the demands of exam preparation is no small feat, but with the right strategies, mindset, and support, it is possible to achieve your goals.The Importance of a Proper Schedule
It is essential to create a realistic and structured schedule that allows you to balance your parental responsibilities with your academic pursuits. Here is a sample schedule that you can adapt to your needs:Weekdays
Full Length Pre-Mock: Dedicate one hour to a full-length practice test to simulate exam conditions. Mock Analysis: Spend 30 minutes reviewing your mock test to identify areas of improvement. Daily Current Affairs: Allocate 15 minutes to read and understand the latest news relevant to the banking sector. Sectional Mock and Analysis: Complete a sectional mock test and analyze the weak areas in detail. Aim for 45 minutes for each section. Practice Weak Topics: Use PDFs or YouTube resources to practice topics you find challenging for 30-45 minutes. Main Topics Practice: Choose 2-3 main topics and practice them daily. Dedicate 45 minutes to this task.Weekends
Weekly Current Affairs Revision: Spend at least 30 minutes revising current affairs for the week. Main Sectional Mock and Analysis: Take a sectional mock test and spend 45 minutes analyzing your performance. Consistently manage to dedicate 4-5 hours to your studies each day, showing genuine dedication. Here is a sample daily schedule to help you get started:Sample Daily Schedule
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM: Wake up and prepare for the day. Engage in light exercise or a healthy breakfast. 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM: Full Length Pre-Mock. 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Mock Analysis. 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM: Daily Current Affairs. 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM: Sectional Mock and Analysis. 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM: Practice Weak Topics. 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM: Main Topics Practice. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch break and rest. 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Resume studies or engage in activities that help you stay focused. 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Review notes and take short breaks. 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Engage with the baby and spend quality time together. 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Have dinner and unwind. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Engage in extracurricular activities or hobbies for stress relief. 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Prepare for the next day or engage in relaxation techniques. 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Bedtime routine and sleep.Maintaining a Positive Mindset
Balancing work, family, and personal goals can be challenging. It is crucial to maintain a positive mindset and adapt to the circumstances. Here are some pointers to help you stay motivated and focused: Pause When Needed: If the baby is in a quiet period, take a moment to focus on your studies. Do not let frustration overwhelm you. Delegate and Seek Support: Ask a family member or a friend to help with the baby. This will give you more time to study. Self-Care: Ensure you get sufficient rest and take care of your physical and mental health. Stay Positive: Remember why you started this journey and stay determined.Real-Life Experiences
Let us explore the experience of a classmate who maintained her coursework while dealing with a baby. She shared her strategy during her nursing clinicals:Her husband also contributed to the cause, helping her with the baby during lectures. This collaboration and dedication helped her maintain her academic performance.She read aloud to the baby from her notes and books while holding and feeding him. Carried him around while listening to classroom lectures she’d taped. Generally talked to him about school things which helped fix them in her head. Of course, he didn’t understand a word of it, but he enjoyed the attention just the same, and she did well on tests. I tell you this as an idea for you to try with your child.