The timetable I followed (and many serious aspirants follow) while preparing for UPSC full-time:

5:30 AM – Wake Up
Quick fresh-up, light exercise or walk to clear the mind.

6:00 AM – 8:00 AM – Optional Subject Study
Fresh mind = best time to tackle tough subjects like Philosophy, PSIR, Sociology, etc.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Breakfast + News
Read The Hindu / Indian Express + jot down current affairs in a register or use a digital app.

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – GS Paper 1 (e.g., History/Geography)
Focused study of NCERTs or standard books like Spectrum or GC Leong.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Tea Break

11:30 AM – 1:30 PM – GS Paper 2/Polity
Laxmikanth, previous year questions, or Mains answer writing practice.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Lunch + Power Nap (20 mins)

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Economy/Environment (GS Paper 3 Topics)
Use NCERTs, PIB summaries, Budget/Eco Survey, etc.

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM – Revision Time
Revise what was studied in the morning. Helps long-term memory.

5:30 PM – 6:00 PM – Snack + Relaxation

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM – Answer Writing Practice
Practice 2-3 Mains questions or an essay outline regularly.

7:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Current Affairs Revision / Monthly Magazine
Daily revision of notes or a quick scan of editorial summaries.

8:30 PM – 9:00 PM – Dinner

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Light Reading (Ethics / Essay Ideas / AIR News)
Less intense, more reflective subjects like Ethics or Essay brainstorming.

10:00 PM – Sleep

Try this for better results-

Weekly: 1 full mock test (Prelims or Mains), review answers.

Sunday: Half-day off or optional revision day.

Flexibility is key. Some days will be slow, and that’s okay.