How to approach the CAT:

Walk slowly. It will eye you with distrust, but hold its glare. Inch in closer and pet it when it arches its back and bristles. Don't let the hissing get to you, or the claws. There will be plenty of both.

Ha Ha!

But seriously, CAT is no longer far off, somewhere on the horizon. It's right in your face, only a handful of days away!

And now, after months -- in some cases, years -- of preparation, you're starting to panic.

You ask yourself: 

Is there anything I overlooked? Am I really ready? What if I completely choke on exam day? My future will be ruined! 

If you feel this way, you are not alone. About two lakhs of students are busy preparing for CAT. I assure you, all of them feel more or less the same way you do.

The trick then, is not to completely avoid stress. That's impossible. Instead, you must turn your anxiety, stress and concern into positive, productive energy.

Let's take a look:

While some stress and anxiety is expected -- even natural -- excessive stress is bad news. It's bad for your health (stress levels are a strong predictor of life expectancy), bad for your relationships (stress affects your daily interactions with friends and family) and bad for your CAT percentile (research shows that stress negatively impacts performance).

So, let's look at techniques that can help you control stress. Some of them are obvious, some of them are simple. But all of them are important, especially at this time of year.

• 3 valuable lessons from a CAT aspirant

1. Focus only on what you can control

This is a tried and true method for lowering stress levels, and it's quite simple. Many students -- and training institutes are partially to blame for this -- focus too much time and energy on the 'what if's?' What if reading comprehension isn't featured this year? What if the quantitative problems exploit my weak points? What if my pencil lead breaks mid-test?

Think of your time as a valuable resource. How you allocate this resource is of the utmost importance. Therefore, instead of worrying about things you can't control, focus on what you can: review and revise each of the major study areas, pack your bag properly and bring all your materials on exam day.

2. Exercise, meditation and yoga

 *Simran [Images] Mistry laughs now when she discusses CAT, but she wasn't always so whimsical. Three years ago, she faced the same challenge you face today, CAT preparation. And to hear her tell it, she wasn't doing such a great job:

"I studied hard, went to tuitions for a year and a half, everything. But somewhere around the 60-day mark, I started to freak out! My mock CAT scores were declining and I was losing confidence. Then my uncle, who is heavily involved in yoga, suggested that I start doing some simple breathing exercises with him. Within six weeks, I was practicing full-fledged yoga, something I'd never done before! And believe me, it worked. Where before my mind had been a jumbled mess, now I was clear as crystal! I ended up acing the CAT, and I'm proud to be a student at IIM Bangalore."

But if yoga isn't your cup of tea, try simple exercises such as jogging. Exercise causes your body to release endorphins, the same chemical your body naturally produces to deal with stress. So strap on those jogging shoes, and give nature a shove in the right direction!

3. Keep a proper diet and sleep pattern

"Alcohol: The cause of and solution to all of life's problems," proclaims Homer Simpson. In the case of CAT, however, alcohol and/or other drugs will only negatively affect your performance.

With stress at all-time highs, it might seem like a good idea to treat yourself with a beer or two or a glass of scotch and soda. Be warned, however, that using alcohol to temporarily relieve stress is a counterproductive practice. Science has suggested a strong, direct correlation between anxiety levels and alcohol consumption. Moreover, on average, heavy binge drinkers have five times the stress levels as non-drinkers.

Some students attempt to cram for the test by staying up late at nights, drowning themselves in coffees and Red Bulls. But caffeine consumption has been repeatedly linked to decreased aptitude in exams, especially when paired with sleep deprivation.

So eat fresh fruits, nuts and other healthy foods. Avoid greasy, fried and heavily processed foods. And for god's sake, get some proper rest, eight hours each and every night!

4. Remember what's truly important

Bharat Thakore, a graduate from IIM Lucknow, reminisces on his CAT preparation.

"Oh man, I was setting myself up for a huge failure, and I didn't even know it. I put so much unnecessary stress on myself. Two weeks before the CAT, I even told my mother, 'If I mess this exam up, I don't want to live. I'd rather jump off the balcony and just die.' For her, that was the final straw. She took my books away, cancelled my last minute tuitions and took me to Goa [Images]! I didn't study at all during the final two weeks. Then, the night before the exam, I ate an early dinner at home with my grandparents and went for a movie with friends. I realised, during the end credits of the film, that I hadn't even thought about CAT for some six hours!"

While you needn't doing something as drastic as Bharat's mother, there is an important lesson to be learned: CAT, at the end of the day, is just an exam.

Be thankful you have your family, your friends and your health. Sprinkle some of these happier aspects into your preparation, as it gives you some proper perspective. 

And remember, even if you bomb completely, you can always ace CAT in your next life.

Cheers!

*Names have been changed on request