Mistakes i made in 1st attempt & how i'm trying to rectify them

Hello,

I gave my GMAT test in Sept 2018
I prepared for two months (one-month classroom training and one month practicing at home)
and scored 500. (was devastated)
I knew I wasn't prepared and had not given my 100% but I couldn't wrap my head around the low score (wanted to get 600+)

I am planning to give my second attempt by February 2019
and I am aiming for 700+

Here are few of the Mistakes I made:-
1) Booking the date before mock exams
Anyone planning to give a GMAT exam should at least give 2-4 mocks and if and only if one is getting the desired score, one should book the exam.
it adds unnecessary pressure and you spend money on rescheduling it.

2) Focused more on grilling than on Reviewing
Focus more on reviewing your mistakes, analyze your weakness and also your strengths. spend a good amount of time reviewing.
Be as attentive and fresh you are while reviewing as you are while practicing

Mistakes on the test day
3) Gave more importance to time division rather than on accuracy i divided time and number of questions into two halves so that I can complete my exam on time, which i realized was a huge mistake.
I should have focused on getting the starting questions right

4) left two questions in Quant.
I got so involved in solving the third last question that I couldn't even mark answers for the last two questions.
which was another terrible mistake.

Mistakes Post Exam
5) Took a very long break
A Break after the exam is much needed but I took a break which lasted one month, couldn't find the strength to start studying again and when i started studying again it was like I was starting from scratch.

So, This time is going to be different
Things i will do differently:-
1) Book only once i am ready and have a consistent mock score of around 680-700
2) Practice more and review
3) Improve my stamina by solving a good amount of questions
4) Not fall for the anxiety trap

And be motivated by all the success stories on GMAT forum :D