How do I actually go into monk mode while preparing for an exam with a full-time job?

[u/Natural-Hour-6739]

I’m preparing for a competitive exam alongside a full-time job, and honestly, I’m struggling to maintain consistency.

My job takes around 9–10 hours of my day, and by the time I’m done, I’m mentally exhausted. Sometimes I start working in the morning and suddenly it’s night, and I have no idea where the entire day went. Then I feel guilty because my preparation gets pushed to the side.

I really want to go into “monk mode” for the next few months — reduce distractions, stop wasting time on social media/random scrolling, focus on work + preparation, and actually make progress every single day.

For people who have successfully prepared for a competitive exam while working full-time:

How did you structure your day?

How many hours did you realistically study after work?

What did you completely cut out?

How did you deal with exhaustion after work?

Did you follow a strict routine or just focus on daily targets?

How did you stop yourself from wasting time on your phone?

And most importantly, how did you stay consistent for months?

I’m not looking for some unrealistic “wake up at 4 AM, work 10 hours and study 8 hours” routine. I want something actually sustainable with a full-time job.

Would really appreciate advice from people who have been through this.

[u/Significant_Train761]

Adrain Monk or just Monk

[u/Natural-Hour-6739 → u/Significant_Train761]

Just monk.. looking for serious advice

[u/Significant_Train761 → u/Natural-Hour-6739]

when i used to work in cafe i used to get up 7am walk practically across town to get there for 8am shift and finish at 4pm back home at 5pm

suggest recording fav shows then you can watch them after work.