‘Sibling bonds are deep and meaningful’ 15 February 2026.
Anonymous
Q. I am a student of final year and I have been suffering from depression since many years. I am on medicines and feel better. But my concentration is not good and I feel very lonely and have friends but still feel lonely. I get emotional easily and am very sensitive and so get hurt with small comments. My family is good to me but I miss my brother who has gone abroad after his studies. I miss him very much and feel my life has become empty after he has left. I cannot trouble him frequently by calling or texting as he has his own things to do. I want to lead a normal happy life. Please help.
Ans. Sibling love and attachment is so powerful and of significance in your life. It is absolutely natural for you to miss your loving brother, who must be like a good friend or a mentor to you. But as life progresses, you eventually have to leave your family to pursue your dreams and become independent. I am sure you know this but the logical explanation does not work. This dependency on your brother’s presence will decrease with time. But you will have to make some conscious efforts to realize the strength of your own energy and utilize it to create happiness through meaningful engagements. Your brother’s absence can never be filled up but getting involved with a serious hobby or sports or an activity of choice would help you feel better and will also add some meaning to your life. If you cannot help yourself, come for a few sessions of counselling so that we can help you.
SK
Q. I am a CA Intermediate student, I need to spend 8-10 hours in coaching classes daily. But I also want to spare some time for exercise because I have started gaining a lot of weight due to sitting at one place and studying. But as my exam is approaching, I’m a little confused on how I can exercise because even taking a small break feels wrong now. What should I do?
Ans. You can always find time for physical activity at home if you cannot give a lot of time playing sports or going to a gym. You can decide a set of exercises with the help of an instructor or a friend and start doing them at home. Yoga is another good option that you could try at home. It is crucial to include movement in your routine as it makes a lot of difference and it’ll help you prepare better for your exam too. It will increase your concentration and lift your mood. This is a situation most students of professional courses face due to the vast curriculum. You have to find a balance for yourself. Take weekly one day off for sports /games/ physical activities if you cannot do it daily. You can exercise right next to your study table in the same room, spread a yoga mat and do yoga; keep a skipping rope and skip for 5 minutes; take a ball and bounce it for 5 minutes; do brain gym exercises; or even breathing exercises (pranayama) to destress and calm down the mind; play a calming music and lie down on a mat for 5 minutes! There are hundred ways to destress and balance the fatigue with relaxation.
MSK
Q. I am a 4th year engineering student. My main goal is to become an IAS officer and for that I read the newspaper daily. I am also preparing for GATE exam as a backup option. Companies are coming but I don’t want to get placed so early. I want to study further and do MTech if I get a good GATE score. But I’m confused on when is the right time to prepare for UPSC because ultimately that’s what I want to do. Should I prepare after graduation or do post- graduation and then start?
Ans. Since you mentioned that it is your ultimate goal to become an IAS officer, you could start preparing for UPSC right away. You don’t need a post graduate degree in engineering for the purpose of UPSC. A back up plan is fine but do decide your second line of choice too. Would you prefer a job in the government sector or in the private sector- for which then an MBA would be preferable. The choice is between MBA or MTech. An MBA course would be more helpful for UPSC as it is about management. Decide first and then act.
