How should I adjust the plan if I can only practice 1 hour per day for DSA Interview

Key Adjustments for 1-Hour Daily Practice

1. Focus on Short, Intense Practice Blocks

   
   Break the hour into focused segments (e.g., 10-20 minutes) targeting one or two specific problem types or concepts. Avoid multitasking to maximize concentration and retention.

2. Prioritize High-Impact Topics

   
   Choose topics that are most relevant to upcoming interviews or your weak areas. This targeted focus toward core problem types will yield better improvement than trying to cover everything superficially.

3. Mix Problem Difficulty Strategically

   
   Spend about 60% of your time on easy to medium problems to build speed and accuracy and 40% on one challenging problem to develop problem-solving depth.

4. Incorporate Review and Reflection

   
   Use part of the session (about 10-15 minutes) to review previous problems, understand mistakes, and revisit solutions. This strengthens learning and avoids repeating errors.

5. Use Efficient Resources

   
   Prefer platforms with clear explanations and quick feedback (like LeetCode or HackerRank). Focus on coding, testing, and understanding solutions instead of lengthy theoretical reading.

6. Keep a Problem Journal

   
   Note down key learning points, errors, and new techniques after each session. This helps in quick review during breaks or when you have more time.

Sample 1-Hour Daily Practice Breakdown

• 5-10 min: Warm-up (solve 1 small easy problem or review concepts)

• 20-25 min: Solve 2 medium problems (focus on algorithms like arrays, strings, or trees)

• 15 min: Solve 1 challenging problem (or break it into smaller parts over days)

• 10-15 min: Review previous day’s problems and notes, optimize solutions

Weekly Focus

• Cover one topic per 2-3 days (e.g., arrays & strings, then linked lists & stacks, then trees & graphs)

• Allocate weekends or one day per week for mixed review and a mock set of problems.

Tips to Stay Effective

• Avoid distractions and use a timer to maintain focused blocks.

• If stuck, spend 5-10 minutes reviewing hints or solution outlines, then reattempt.

• Consistency is key — daily 1 hour beats sporadic longer sessions.

By structuring your limited 1-hour daily practice with these principles, you build steady momentum toward mastering DSA for interviews without burnout or overwhelm.