GMAT Burnout? Try a Slacker Day.
Every day, I scan the latest news and discussions about GMAT preparation, both here and abroad. Today, I stumbled upon a post from an international professional tutor and was surprised to see that its core advice perfectly matches the study plan strategies I’ve always used to help my students achieve their goals:
That’s right: occasionally give yourself a “Cheat Day.”
Why Your GMAT Study Plan Needs a “Cheat Day”
This might sound counterintuitive, Dustin knows many students are incredibly diligent, choosing to study the GMAT every single day of the week. but humans are not machines. While running at high speed for a week might be manageable, sustaining that for one to two months will inevitably lead to physical and mental exhaustion! In the long run, without seeing immediate significant results, you’re very likely to be overcome by burnout.
That’s why I strongly recommend students schedule a “Cheat Day” every one to two weeks. On this day, avoid anything GMAT-related. Even better, engage in activities that “yield immediate results and positively motivate you to keep going.” (Just, you know, no gambling, excessive drinking, or other vices!)
This “Cheat Day” has two huge benefits:
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- Mental and Physical Relaxation: Go for a walk, crush a gym session, have a feast with friends… just let your brain completely switch off from study mode.
- Accumulate “Guilt”: Yep, you read that right. A little bit of guilt from taking a break can paradoxically become a powerful motivator, making you dive back into studying with more enthusiasm the next day!
Study Hours for Asian Test-Takers? Don’t Just Copy Western Study Plans!
Speaking of study plans, that “10 hours on weekdays, 5 hours on weekends” strategy mentioned in the original foreign post? I personally think it’s a terrible fit for Asian test-takers.
In my experience, most Asian test-takers lack extensive experience with long-form English academic reading. This puts us at a disadvantage compared to Western candidates. While they might just need to focus on improving logic and problem-solving, we have an extra hurdle: “enhancing the accuracy and speed of information absorption.”
So, my recommended study hours for Asian test-takers are consistently: “20 hours on weekdays, 10 hours on weekends.”
