Working aspirants — how do you actually balance CAT prep with a full time job?
Hey everyone, I really need genuine advice here because I am seriously struggling.
By the time I get home from work I have absolutely no energy left. I sit down to study and my brain is just blank. Cannot retain concepts, cannot solve DILR sets, just staring at the screen feeling guilty about not studying.
I have tried morning sessions but honestly the quality is terrible and I am not a morning person at all.
I know people crack CAT while working full time because the success stories exist. But what does that actually look like on a normal Tuesday evening after a exhausting day?
A few things I genuinely want to know:
- What does your actual daily routine look like, not the ideal version but the real one?
- Do you study on weekdays at all or just survive the week and grind on weekends?
- How do you retain anything when your mind is constantly switching between work stress and prep?
- Have you just accepted slower progress and planned your attempt accordingly?
And the bigger question honestly is it even worth attempting CAT this year with this kind of preparation, or is it smarter to wait for a year where I can give it proper time and energy?
I am not looking for generic advice like wake up at 5am or just be disciplined. I want to know what actually worked for real people in this exact situation. Would really appreciate hearing from working aspirants who have genuinely been through this.
Posted Jun 5, 2026, 4:48 AM UTC